"Stuart A. Bronstein" wrote:
I had to laugh at this one. I'm not planning to leave any property to the kittens! I just outlined what I thought would be a practical approach to dealing with their immediate care and then what do do with them long term. I feel that the more guidelines you can give the people who have to "clean up" after your demise, the better for all. It takes some decison making pressure off them, and in the case of animals, something really does have to happen just about immediately, and if your "cleaners" are not animal nuts, or familiar with the contacts you have in that area, they may be frustrated and at a loss as to what to do, and may make a bad choice. All I put in these "guidelines" was on the order of (for immediate care, for example), that my executor should immediately provide for care using my vet of record's boarding facility, unless she desired to take the animals into her personal residence. As an alternative temporary measure, I suggested hiring a locally known animal sitter (with suggestions on who to call to find one) to visit my house daily for animal care. All expenses should be born by my estate. The provisions for permanent care were in a similar vein, with various options that would be acceptable to me. I think/hope that this would ensure continuity of care at a time when my executor is likely to have many other things to deal with. One would like to think that my executor would think of these things naturally, but I think the first reaction would be "Oh dear, what do we do about the cats?". Doesn't sound like its a question of legality, does it? It is rather loose (vague?) in its wording,and I might want to make alterations if I come up with a better, more concise plan, and I wouldn't want to have to rewrite a will just for this. So what do you think? jo
Moderator: Only someone who has an animal can appreciate the compassion of your concerns. I refer to our cat as my daughter.