• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
    • Communities We Serve
      • Minnesota
        • Bemidji
        • Crookston
        • East Grand Forks
        • Fertile
        • Thief River Falls
      • North Dakota
        • Devils Lake
        • Dickinson
        • Grafton
        • Grand Forks
        • Minot
    • Job Opportunities
    • Speaker Connection
  • Estate Planning
    • Asset Protection
    • Business Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Financial Planning Assistance
    • Incapacity Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • Probate
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
  • Elder Law
    • Are You A Caregiver
    • Conservatorship
    • Coping with Alzheimer’s
    • Hospice Care
    • Life Care Planning Services
    • Medicaid Benefits
    • Nursing Home Planning
    • Veterans Benefits
  • Seminars/Webinars
  • Resources
    • Client Resources
      • Estate Planning Resources for Farmers
      • Elder Law Resources
        • Bemidji
        • Grand Forks Elder Law
        • Minot Elder Law
        • Thief River Falls Elder Law
      • Estate Planning Checklist
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Probate Checklist
      • Probate Resources
        • Bemidji Probate
        • Grand Forks Probate
        • Minot Probate
        • Thief River Falls Probate
      • Relocation Toolkit
      • Top 10 Estate Planning Techniques
    • DocuBank
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Free Medicaid/Long-Term Care Calculator
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Asset Protection
        • Business Planning
        • Business Succession Planning
      • Elder Law
        • Medicaid Planning
        • Veteran’s Benefits
        • Nursing Home Planning
      • Estate Planning
        • Estate Planning & Divorce
        • Estate Planning for Women
        • Job of an Executor
        • Families Without an Estate Plan
        • Gift, Estate, and Inheritance Taxes
        • Including Philanthropy in Your Estate Plan
        • Including Your Pet in Your Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
        • Power of Attorney
        • Serving as Executor
      • Financial Planning
      • Incapacity Planning
        • Social Security Benefits
        • Understanding SSI and SSDI
      • Trust Administration & Probate
        • Probate
        • Small Estate Probate
        • Trusts
        • Wills
    • Newsletters
    • Probate & Estate Planning Savings Calculator
    • Professional Resources
    • Published Books
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
      • Trust Administration
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review us
  • Contact Us
  • Blog

GermanLawGroup

Estate Planning & Medicaid Attorneys in Grand Forks , North Dakota

Call us today(800) 774-7576

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Attend A Free Seminar
Home » Services » Pet Planning in North Dakota & Minnesota

Pet Planning in North Dakota & Minnesota

Having pets in your life can bring you great joy, but it is also a big responsibility to take on the care of an animal who is dependent upon you. Your pet relies on you to provide a safe and stable home and part of fulfilling this responsibility is to make sure there are plans in place for your pet to be cared for in case something happens to you.

There are legal tools you can use to protect your pet in case of incapacity or in case you pass away before your pet does. German Law can guide you through the process of making your pet plan so you will have the peace of mind of knowing that your animal will always be safe. To find out more about what is involved in the pet planning process, give us a call. You can get personalized advice on making plans for your pet and can get answers to questions you have about the pet planning process including:

  • Why is making a pet plan important?
  • What is involved in the pet planning process?
  • How can a pet planning lawyer in Minnesota or North Dakota help you?

Why is Making a Pet Plan Important?

According to the ASPCA, there are 7.6 million companion animals who are surrendered each year, including both 3.9 million dogs and 3.4 million cats. Tragically, 2.7 million animals are euthanized. Some of those animals are beloved companions who had no home to go to after their owner died.

You do not want to take any chances that your pet will end up homeless and uncared for if something happens to you. You may assume that your family will simply take care of your pet, but there are not always guarantees and you need to make plans to ensure that someone you trust will assume responsibility for your animal.

You can make plans for your pet’s future as part of a comprehensive estate planning process or you can simply work with German Law to create a pet plan that addresses the care of your animals.

What is Involved in the Pet Planning Process?

When you create a pet plan, you can decide how extensive you want your plan to be and how much protection you hope to be able to provide for your companion animals.

The simplest way to make a pet plan is to determine who should be guardian of your pet and specify in a last will and testament who will care for your pet.  You should always talk with the person who you are choosing as your pet’s guardian to make sure they are willing to take on the responsibility of caring for the pet.   You should also consider naming someone as a backup in case your first choice of guardian becomes unable to care for your pet when care is needed.

You may want to leave money to ensure that there are funds available to provide care for your animal.  This can be done by leaving money in a will but of course your pet cannot directly inherit and this is not the best way to guarantee that the money you have left will actually be used to provide for your pet.

If you want to create a more comprehensive pet plan to ensure that the money you make available is used for your pet and for designated purposes – such as veterinary care or the purchase of favorite toys and treats – you can create a trust. You’ll name a trustee to manage trust assets, with your pet as the beneficiary, and provide specific instructions in your trust document regarding exactly how the money should be used.

When you create a trust, as opposed to when you simply leave money to your pet in your will, the trustee has a fiduciary duty to follow your instructions. This is the highest duty that can be owed under the law so you can have 100 percent confidence that the money will be used for your intended purposes so your beloved pet can still have a high quality of life after you are gone.

How can a Pet Planning Lawyer in Minnesota or North Dakota Help You?

The future is uncertain and you never know when or how something could happen to you. Don’t leave your animal vulnerable for any longer. Call German Law today to find out what is involved in the pet planning process and to learn more about how our legal team can help you to make a comprehensive pet plan.

Primary Sidebar

TESTIMONIALS

Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Needed to come in to get specific advice for our needs. The attorney spoke to us in terms we could understand, coming to our level and did not make up feel uncomfortable. They were very considerate and caring. We didn’t feel rushed. We felt like they cared and knew what they were doing.

C.P., Minnesota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

We were wonderfully satisfied. Wayne did an outstanding job of explaining, diagramming and answering questions and concerns.

JW & CD, North Dakota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

They were courteous, efficient, knowledgeable, and trustworthy.

D.T., Minnesota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Very helpful. Our children and us are are confident in your group.

-Anonymous, Fargo, North Dakota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

"Very professional, covered all, expertise, friendly, peace of mind now."

- Anonymous, North Dakota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

So much of a client's high or low opinion of an organization depends on their welcomed feeling. I felt that every time I visited the office, every person I talked with listened and took action on my concern or questions! They were also very friendly.

~J.R., Grand Forks, ND
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

From phone calls to signing the final documents I was treated with respect, kindness, and understanding by Wayne & Jenn. Every business that wants their business represented well should have someone like Jenn & Wayne. They both made me feel relaxed and assured I was at the right place at the right time at this time in my life. 

~ Deborah Rucinksi, North Dakota 
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

All of the paperwork was completed in a timely matter. Wayne was very good in explaining the trust to us. 

~Anonymous
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Thank you for taking care of my finances after I am gone. I worried about probate once; hopefully this has been solved. Everyone was very polite and helpful. Thank you Katie for answering my questions, and also Jenn.

- Anonymous
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

This Avvo rating is killer and so deserved! You are the best brother! The only thing is I think the 10 rating is too low, in my book you go to 11! Congratulations on the award, you should be very very proud. See you at your Holiday party, thx for the invite.

Anthony G., Los Angeles, CA
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Everyone at German Law was helpful and pleasant. I felt good about my decision, I thought I was doing the right thing for myself & my family. Wayne took his time and didn't rush, which is good because a lot of this can be over people's heads.

A.W., Red Lake Falls, MN
Client Review
April 15, 2021
    

Excellent

Very interesting, informative and valuable information and ideas.

Valuable information.

RP
Client Review
April 15, 2021
    

5 STARS! Thanks for allowing this to be on a webinar! Very interested in this topic.

Great Estate Planning Guide

SD
November 25, 2022
    

John provided very short turn-around time that we needed. He built an amortization schedule that really met our needs. He was responsive and very easy to work with! Quick and easy!

 

Cammy was also very helpful and professional!

November 25, 2022
    

Really Liked it.
Assisted by John Oelke

November 25, 2022
    

Excellent!

<
>

FREE ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHEET

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Where We Are

German Law
2650 32nd Avenue South, Suite O
Grand Forks, ND 58201
Phone: (701) 738-0060
Fax: (701) 738-0064

See Larger Map Get Directions

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 PM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Map

Footer

  • Speaker Connection
  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • About The American Academy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Connect to Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
footer-logo

© 2023 German Law
All Right Reseved.

Attorney Advertisement