LEAVE IT TO A BEAVER?! WHERE PETS BELONG IN AN ESTATE PLAN
When you type “Leona Helmsley” into Google, you may be surprised to see “dog” at the top of the autocomplete list. While Helmsley was the “Queen of Mean” and an immensely successful hotelier, she’s now known as the woman who left $12 million of her estate to Trouble, her Maltese dog. Most of us won’t have $12 million to give to anybody, let alone a pet, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider estate planning options for your nonhuman loved ones. Most pet owners regard their four-legged friends as real members of their families. It makes sense, then, that we consider them during the estate planning process. Of course, dogs and cats don’t have exceedingly long life expectancies. But if you welcomed a critter into your family later in life, you may want to plan what will happen to them when you’re gone, especially if you live alone. Owners of pets with longer lives, like horses or parrots, should definitely give pet-related estate planning serious thought.
You can designate a caretaker for your pets in your last will and testament, just as you would for children. You may also create a pet trust to allocate funds specifically for the care of your animals. Pet care can be expensive, particularly for larger animals, and it’s unfair to place an undue financial burden on your pet’s caretaker. Setting money aside ensures your pet receives the treatment you would’ve wanted for them. You should also
be certain that you select a caretaker who has the time, resources, and desire to provide a good life for the animal(s). Nobody wants to be surprised with a horse they don’t have proper space for. If you need help with any aspect of estate planning, whether it involves animals or not, call our office today.
SHRIMP SAUSAGE SKEWERS MICHELE’S RECIPE CORNER
take a break
INGREDIENTS
• 1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined • 1/2 pound cooked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces • 2 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
Creole Seasoning Ingredients • 2 tablespoons paprika • 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder • 1/2 tablespoon onion powder • 1/2 tablespoon cayenne or chili powder • 1/4 tablespoon dried oregano • 1/4 tablespoon dried thyme
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat your grill to medium-high. 2. In a bowl, combine all ingredients for creole seasoning. 3. In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, zucchini pieces, and sausage pieces, and cover them with the olive oil. 4. Add creole seasoning and mix well until all ingredients are covered. 5. Load up skewers with alternating pieces of shrimp, sausage, and zucchini until they’re full. 6. Grill skewers until shrimp are well-cooked (6–8 minutes).
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