Most states have some provisions for taking care of your pet after you are gone. Pet trusts are increasing in popularity as a way to provide for your pet. For example, the Illinois pet trust not only sets the caretaker of the animals, but offers a provision for an enforcer. An enforcer would monitor the caretaker to ensure they are meeting their obligations as detailed in the trust.

Anna Morrison-Ricordati practices civil litigation and animal law in Chicago, Illinois.

Handling all aspects of dispute resolution, Anna has represented individual and business clients in mediations, arbitrations, jury and bench trials, equitable remedies, and appeals.

She is a past Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Animal Law Section Council (2010-2011), past Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee (2012-2013), and Chair of the DuPage County Bar Association’s Animal Law Section (2014-2015)

In this CLE class clip, Anna discusses how to provide for your dog after you’re gone.

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In the event a caretaker isn’t following the rules set forth in the trust, or there may be some fraud involved, where the caretaker is trying to pass off another animal as the original pet covered by the trust, the enforcer can step in an bring this to the attention of the courts.

In the event the animal named in the trust passes, the trust can be set up for an additional beneficiary, such as a pet shelter or other organization, even another individual.