Hi there,
When news broke that actress Diane Keaton, who passed away on October 11th, allegedly left part of her estate to her dog, Reggie, headlines went wild.
It’s an irresistible idea: Hollywood icon leaves fortune to her loyal companion.
There’s just one problem. The law doesn’t let you leave money to your pet.
Your dog might think he owns the house, but under the law, he’s just property. And property can’t own property. Which means your dog can’t inherit your house, your money, or even his favorite squeaky toy.
So how do you make sure he’s still cared for if you’re not around to fill his bowl?
When I started preparing for this episode, I thought about my own dog, Oliver. Oliver was the kind of dog who made every hard choice harder. He was 85 pounds of loyalty and chaos.
He once survived a coyote attack, a fall off a cliff, pneumonia, and even a brawl with a pack of geese. My husband still calls him “the best dog in the universe.”
But loving Oliver came with tough decisions. By the time he got older, every emergency vet visit came with a question behind the question: not just Can I afford this? but Should I? That’s the impossible balance every pet owner faces, honoring their lives without making them live for us.
The law doesn’t let you leave money to your pet, but you can leave money for the benefit of your pet through a pet trust.
A pet trust sets aside funds for your animal’s care and names someone you trust, the trustee, to manage that money. It’s a way to make sure the person caring for your pet has the resources, and the accountability, to do it well.
I don’t have a pet trust for my three dogs. Not because I don’t believe in pet trusts—I do—but because I’ve done my own cost benefit analysis. I have a partner at home, a plan in place, and friends who know exactly what to do if something happens to me.
I’ve also filled out a
Pet Information Sheet for each of my dogs, which includes feeding notes, quirks, vet info, and exercise routines. It’s the kind of simple, practical step that turns love into preparation.
If you’re not sure what that looks like for your own pets, start here:
- Think about who would take care of your pets if you were gone.
- Have a conversation with that person.
- Leave written instructions like my Pet Information Sheet about your pet’s care, diet, and routines.
- Decide how much financial support would feel fair and realistic.
Estate planning isn’t about doing the perfect thing; it’s about doing the right thing for this stage of your life. It’s about protecting the relationships that give your life meaning, even the ones that bark, shed, and sleep on your pillow.
