How to incorporate pet trusts into estate planning, and why this will add value to your practice

For many people, animals are part of the family. Dogs, cats, rodents, reptiles, birds, and other pets are important members of millions of households, and yet they are not always accounted for when planning for the future. Many people overlook pets when embarking on estate planning and are unaware that these loved ones should be accounted for in the event of owner death or incapacity. As an attorney, adding pet trusts to your legal repertoire can add value to your law practice and potentially capture a whole new client base. Pet trusts can be easily and quickly added to an existing estate plan. Still, there are a few guidelines to follow to ensure pet owner intentions are honored in the event an animal outlives them.

It’s amazing how technology has been transforming estate planning. What was once a maze of paperwork is now mostly digitized, with organized, easy-to-use online files. If you’re curious about which legal technologies can help you the most as an estate planning attorney, this three-part series is for you.

Today’s attorneys face a number of challenges that require a fresh approach to estate planning. Trying to balance the need for time-saving, automated processes while also growing a client base leaves many attorneys stuck in the middle — unsure whether to prioritize productivity or client relationships. There’s good news: you can maximize both efficiency and client satisfaction. You can better tailor estate planning services to your clients and improve practice efficiency by knowing your audience and making use of online tools.