I’m worried about what will happen to my pets if I become incapacitated or die. Is there anything I can do?

It is legal in Massachusetts to set up a trust for the benefit of a pet. A pet trust is a legally enforceable fiduciary arrangement that provides for the care and maintenance of one or more pets in the event of the owner’s disability or death. It allows the owner to provide instructions for pet care and to direct the management and disbursements of trust funds on the pet’s behalf. It may be created during lifetime or by provision in a will. If the trustee is not the one appointed by the trust to care for the pet, a separate caretaker or “pet guardian” may be appointed. In addition, a separate “trust protector” may also be appointed as an additional check to ensure that the trust purposes are carried out.