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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Gratia Schoemakers
      • Community Outreach Program
    • Testimonials
  • Virtual Services
  • Estate Planning
    • Estate Planning Basics
    • Last Will and Testament
    • Revocable Living Trusts
    • Durable Power of Attorney
    • Medical Power of Attorney
    • Living Will
    • Family Estate Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning & Asset Protection
    • Kids Safety Plan™
    • Business Succession Planning
    • Guardianship
      • Guardianship Planning
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Legacy Preservation Planning
    • Asset Protection
    • Trusts
    • Pet Trusts
    • Gun Trusts
  • Probate
    • Texas Probate Guide
    • Probate of a Will
    • Texas Affidavit of Heirship
    • Texas Small Estate Affidavit
    • Texas Heirship Determination
    • Texas Muniment of Title
    • Trust Administration
  • Family Law
    • Divorce
    • Collaborative Divorce
    • Mediation
    • Custody / Visitation
  • Blog
  • FAQs
    • FAQs – Videos
    • FAQs – Estate Planning
    • FAQs – Beyond Money in Estate Planning
    • FAQs – Divorce and Estate Planning FAQs and Myths
    • FAQs – Estate Planning for Newlyweds Myths and FAQs
    • FAQs – Estate Planning for Young Adults
    • FAQs – The Estate Planning Cast of Characters
    • FAQs – Expecting an Inheritance
    • FAQs – Myths and FAQs – Planning for Conflict Prone Families
    • FAQs – New and Expanding Families
    • FAQs – Pet Trusts
    • FAQs – Probate
    • FAQs – Standalone Retirement Trust Myths and FAQs
    • FAQs – Trust Modifications
    • FAQs – Unwinding Obsolete Planning
    • FAQs – Why You Want to Avoid Probate
    • FAQs – Year-End Planning Myths and FAQs
  • Contact
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Another 3 Famous Pet Trust Cases and the Lessons We Can Learn from Them

November 15, 2016 By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.

Things don’t always go according to plan.  On the other hand, sometimes pet owners can get a bit creative when providing for their pets.  Let’s take a look now at 3 famous cases involving pet trusts and distill important lessons from them.Pet Trusts

David Harper and Red

David Harper, a wealthy, reclusive bachelor in Ottawa, Canada, wasn’t exactly famous during his life.  In his death, however, he made headlines by reportedly leaving his entire $1.1 million dollar estate to his tabby cat, Red.  Just to make sure his wishes were carried out, Harper actually bequeathed the fortune to the United Church of Canada under the stipulation that they take care of Red for him!  The ploy worked.

Lesson learned: You can be creative in your approach to making sure your pets receive proper care after you’re gone.  Let’s chat about your goals and wishes when it comes to your pets.

Maria Assunta and Tommaso

In a four-legged and furry version of the classic rags-to-riches story, wealthy Italian widow Maria Assunta rescued a stray cat from the streets of Rome and gave him a proper home and name: Tommaso.  As Assunta’s health failed, she tried for several years to find an animal organization to entrust Tommaso.  When no suitable organization was found, Assunta left the estate valued at $13 million directly to the cat in her will and named her own nurse as the caretaker.  She passed away in 2011 at the ripe old age of 94, knowing her beloved Tommaso would be well taken care of.

Lesson learned: The best way to ensure the care of your pet is in writing, with a proper estate plan.

Patricia O’Neill and Kalu

Patricia O’Neill, daughter of British nobility and ex-spouse of Olympian Frank O’Neill, had designated a fortune worth $70 million to her chimpanzee, Kalu, and other pets, in her will – or so she thought.  It was discovered in 2010 that the heiress herself was virtually broke, thanks to the shady dealings of a dishonest financial advisor.  This story provides perhaps the most famous example of a pet trust gone dry while the owner is still living.

Lessons learned: You can only give away what you have.  If caring for your pets after your death is important to you, make sure your financial plan is in line with your estate plan and that you’ve taken appropriate steps to oversee your advisors.

Establishing a pet trust is the best way to ensure that your beloved pets receive the care they deserve after you pass on.  To learn more about your options, contact us or give us a call today.

This article is the second in a series of articles.  Read the first article in this series.

Filed Under: Estate Planning Tagged With: Celebrities, Mistakes, Pets, Trust

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