Pets and Death

There is never a good time to talk about pets and death.  There is a worse time however and that is in the moment.  Have you prepared for the actuality that something can happen to you and your pets would be left without you?  Jason and I recently prepared wills on the insistence of my father.  I procrastinated as long as I possibly could.  I do understand that something could happen to either one of us every time we leave the house (even in the house).  Accidents happen.  But if something happens to me, Florida law states everything goes to Jason and vice versa. Simple enough.  Then it hit me.  We were preparing for a trip out of state for the long weekend and it really hit home that something could happen to both of us at the same time.  Florida law also states that pets are property, nothing more than our sofa.  Without a will, I do not even know what would happen to the sofa, so I could not chance it with my pets.  Yes, we have friends and family that would step in and take care of them, but again, the worst time for any of them to have to decide something like that is in those overwhelming moments.  (Let's be honest here, no one would really wants the bird, so I have to be sure I have her covered, if nothing else).

I am not even going to pretend to really understand probate law, but a quick internet search taught me that you have to be very careful in your wording and have a trust set up if you have particular financial and care giving wishes for your pets.  We would probably want a good lawyer for these documents.  For now, we have kept it simple.  We have designated our furry and feathered property to people we know will love and care for them or find the best possible new home.  I really do not care what happens to the sofa, but there is now someone to take care of that too.