Legal News | 13.03.25

A nation of animal lovers

The British love pets; apparently 36% of households own a dog and 29% own a cat.  It’s not therefore surprising that for many, thinking about what happens to your pets after your death is a very important consideration.

Legally it is not possible to leave money or pension income directly to a pet; this is because pets are considered to be possessions.

Who will look after my pet?

While you might think that your neighbour who pet-sits for you on an occasional basis would be the perfect candidate, make sure you ask them whether they would be willing to take on such a responsibility.  If you do not have a friend, family member or neighbour who is able to help, then consider approaching an animal charity to take care of your pet(s) when you die.

Who will pay for my pet’s care?

While you cannot leave money to your pet(s) directly, you can leave money to a person or charity.

The upkeep of animals is not cheap.   It therefore makes sense to consider leaving your chosen pet guardian (be it a person or charity) a sum of money, either as an outright gift or in a trust, so that they have the means to care for your pet for the remainder of its lifetime.

As always, if you would like more information about this topic or if you would like to make a new Will or review your existing Will to ensure that your pet’s needs are catered for, then please do get in touch.