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23 July 2026
The famous Chanel and Fendi designer Karl Lagerfeld reportedly left a substantial portion of his estate to his cat Choupette when he died.
However, there is dispute as to whether he left the estate to a caretaker or the cat herself, which raises the important question of what happens to pets after their owners pass away.
In the UK, it is not possible to leave any portion of an estate to a pet as they are not considered to be people. Despite this, there are ways to provide for and pamper your pets after you have passed away.
A pet is like a part of your family, so it is often just as important to provide for them once you have passed away as it would be for your own child.
Pets should be accounted for within your Will and there should be open conversations with loved ones about what you wish for your pet.
Factoring in your pet into your Will should involve specifying details of the pet’s care, diet, routine, veterinary care and any other important information.
There should then be a clause outlining who you would like to care for your pet. This could be a family member or friend. It is always important to have a discussion with this person beforehand to ensure that they are willing and able to take on the responsibility.
While you are unable to leave money directly to your pet, you can leave money to the person who is set to be caring for your pet to help cover food, vet bills and other expenses associated with a pet.
Another option can be a pet Trust. This is a legal tool that allows you to appoint caregivers, set aside funds and protect your pet’s well-being should you be unable to care for them anymore.
Unlike direct funds to a caregiver, a trust ensures that funds are specifically ringfenced and only used for the pet’s benefit.
It is managed the same way as any other trust with a settlor, trustee and beneficiary (the caregiver) included.
A general rule of thumb is that the pet’s lifespan should be taken into account with a buffer of three to five years’ worth of funds placed into the trust.
If there are no clear instructions, your pet’s future may be uncertain, which could mean your pet ends up being pushed aside when loved ones are making decisions on your estate.
This means that an executor may have to make decisions on your pet’s welfare without knowing your wishes.
This could result in your pet being rehomed with someone you wouldn’t want them to be, or in the worst-case scenario, ending up in the care of the RSPCA.
It is estimated that 1.3 million pets enter animal rescue centres globally due to the death of their owners. Don’t let yours be one of them.
Pets are a part of the family, so it is important that you provide for them within your Will the same way you would a family member.
Our pawsome team are here to support you when making provisions for your purr-fect pets within your Will.
We can help set up pet trusts as well! Together, we can make sure your pampered pets can continue to keep up their lifestyle.
For ‘tail’ored support, get in touch with our pawsome team today!
