Pets are just as much a part of your family as your children and loved ones are. And with 60% of UK Households owning a pet in 2024, you may therefore want to think about providing for them in your Will. Wills Executive, Judith Hurle discusses the provisions needed in your Will to protect both your pet and the beneficiary of your pet.
Can I leave my pet to someone in my Will?
Yes, you can, and whilst most people think that their pet will be cared for by a family member, which probably is the case, they do not take into consideration the actual cost of looking after the pet. One of the main benefits of including your pet in your Will in that you can include financial provisions as well.
If no provision is made in your Will, or you do not have a Will, a pet will be treated as a chattel and therefore the beneficiary of the Estate is liable for the care of the animal.
How can I provide for my pet in my Will?
There are several options on how to provide for your pet in your Will such as:
- An absolute gift of your pet to a named beneficiary – this can include financial provision for looking after your pet
- An absolute gift of your pet to your Executors – in such circumstances a Letter of Wishes would be written by the Testator setting out how they would want their pet cared for and/or rehomed
- A Trust can be set up in the Will for the pet – there are different types of trust depending on how the Testator wishes the pet to be cared for and if financial provision is to be made
- You can gift your pet to a named charity
Your Solicitor will talk you through these options at your initial meeting so that you can make an informed decision.
How do I calculate financial provisions for my pet?
You should consider the life expectancy of your pet:
- Dog: 10-13 years
- Cat: 15-17 years
- Goldfish: 5-10 years
- Rabbit: 8-12 years
- Guinea Pig: 5-8 years
- Hamster: 2-3 years
- Tortoise: 50-100+ years
- Parrot: 25-50+ years
- Horse: 25-33 years
You should also consider how much it may cost each year to look after your pet. This, as with life expectancy, varies dramatically by breed and size, but for dogs this could be as high as £2500 per year, and for cats over £1500 per year.
Expenses are likely to increase as the animal gets older, i.e. vets’ bills/medication, and so adequate financial provision should be included in your Will to cover the cost of food, vets’ bills and insurance.
Letter of Wishes
When nominating an individual to look after your pet after your death you can write a Letter of Wishes to that individual setting out:
- How you would like your pet to be cared for
- Whether your pet has any medical conditions
- What food your pet eats
- Your pet’s daily routine
- Details of the vet your pet is registered with
- Microchip details
- Insurance details
What if the person you nominate to take care of your pet can not do this?
You should nominate a substitute person, as you would do a substitute beneficiary, or mention that your Trustees have the power to rehome your pet if the nominated person is unable to look after your pet.
Would the person nominated to take care of your pet need to pay inheritance tax on the financial provision?
No, the financial provision will be given free of tax.
About our Will Writing Service
At Amphlett Lissimore, we have experienced lawyers to help ensure that your wishes are written correctly into your Will. The team will put you at ease, explaining everything clearly without legal jargon. You can learn more about our Will writing service here.
