Pet Care Designation Statement of Intent

They are family. Make sure they're treated like it. The Pet Care Designation Statement of Intent names who cares for your animals when you can't — and gives that person everything they need to do it right.

Pets have no legal standing in estate proceedings. They are property — which means without a formal designation, they go wherever the Successor Trustee or family decides, or to whoever agrees to take them, or in the worst cases, to a shelter. They cannot speak for themselves. They cannot tell anyone what they need, who they trust, what they eat, or that they're afraid of the car.

And the people who love their animals know: a pet's wellbeing in the hands of the wrong person, or no person, is not a small thing. These are creatures who have given complete trust and complete loyalty. They deserve the same in return.

Most estate plans say nothing about pets. They are the gap that even careful planners miss — until it's too late to fill it.

The Pet Care Designation Statement of Intent is a simple, specific, deeply personal document that ensures your animals are never an afterthought. It names who takes them, gives that person everything they need to care for them properly, and allows you to establish financial provisions for their care. It is the document your animals cannot ask you to write — so you write it anyway.

WHAT IT IS

The Pet Care Designation Statement of Intent is a formal written document that names a primary caregiver and a successor caregiver for each of your animals in the event of your death or incapacity. It includes a comprehensive care profile for each animal — their medical history, veterinary contacts, feeding routines, behavioral notes, medications, and the personal details that make them who they are. It also provides a framework for establishing financial provisions for their care, whether through a direct bequest to the caregiver or through a Pet Trust provision in your Revocable Living Trust.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• ✅ Pet Care Designation Statement of Intent Template — Names primary and successor caregivers for each animal, with a full care profile section for each pet: species, breed, age, medical history, medications, veterinary contacts, feeding schedule, behavioral notes, and personal care instructions
• ✅ Financial Provisions Section — Guidance on establishing a direct bequest to the caregiver or coordinating with a Pet Trust provision in your Revocable Living Trust
• ✅ Step-by-Step Completion Guide — Walks you through designating caregivers, completing each animal's care profile, and integrating the designation with your broader estate plan
• ✅ Document Checklist — Everything you need to gather before you sit down, including veterinary records and medication information

WHO THIS IS FOR

This document is for you if:

• You have a pet — dog, cat, bird, horse, reptile, or any animal in your care — and you have not formally designated who takes them if something happens to you
• You want the person who takes your animals to have everything they need to care for them properly — not just good intentions
• You want to establish financial support for your animal's ongoing care
• You believe that the love and loyalty your animals have given you deserves reciprocation — even after you're gone

HOW IT WORKS

1. Purchase & Download — Your template and Completion Guide arrive instantly.
2. Name Your Caregivers — Designate a primary caregiver and a successor for each animal. The guide walks you through having this conversation with your chosen caregiver before finalizing the document — their agreement matters.
3. Complete Each Pet's Care Profile — For each animal: name, species, breed, age, medical history, current medications, veterinarian name and contact, feeding schedule, behavioral notes, special needs, and anything else the new caregiver needs to know.
4. Establish Financial Provisions — The guide explains two options: a direct bequest to the caregiver (simpler, less controlled) or a Pet Trust provision within your Revocable Living Trust (more structured, ensures funds are used for the animal's care).
5. Store & Share — Keep a copy with your estate planning documents and provide a copy to your designated caregiver so they know they are named and understand what is expected.

THE STAKES

Every year, thousands of pets are surrendered to shelters or placed in unsuitable homes following the death or incapacitation of their owners — not because no one would have taken them, but because no plan existed. No one knew who was supposed to step in. No one knew what the animal needed. No one had agreed in advance to be responsible.

A Pet Care Designation does not require a court, an attorney, or a lengthy process. It requires you to sit down, name the right person, and write down what your animals need. Done correctly, it is the difference between your animals going to someone who is prepared to love and care for them — and everything else.

The people who love their animals understand that "they're just a pet" is not a sentence that applies to their family. This document is written for those people.

ADD-ONS — COMPLETE YOUR LEGACY PLAN

• Revocable Living Trust Allows you to establish a formal Pet Trust provision within your trust — a structured fund dedicated to your animal's care, managed by your Trustee. $227
• Legacy Instructions Sheet Includes a section for pet care information and points your Successor Trustee to the Pet Care Designation as their first call. $37
• Complete Legacy Add-On Pack Includes all four operational documents — this designation plus the Legacy Instructions Sheet, Digital Asset Access Sheet, and Personal Property Memorandum — at a bundle price. $97

👉🏾 [Add these documents before checkout]

"I have two dogs. They are my family —12 years and counting. When I started my estate plan I realized I had thought about everything except them. My trust was perfect. My will was signed. And there was not one word anywhere about who takes my girls if something happens to me. I filled out the Pet Care Designation in one sitting. My sister is named as primary caregiver — she already knew and agreed. Now she has their vet information, their medications, their feeding schedule, everything. I sleep better knowing they're covered." — Camille R., New Orleans, LA

Your Pet Care Designation Statement of Intent. $27.

What you get:

• Complete Pet Care Designation template (covers multiple animals)
• Comprehensive Care Profile section for each pet
• Financial Provisions section with Pet Trust guidance
• Step-by-Step Completion Guide
• Document Checklist
• Instant digital download