Recently got a pet? You may need to change your Will… - Lewis & Dick Solicitors

• 1st September 2021
• By admin
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Recently the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) released its annual pet population data, confirming that 3.2 million households in the UK have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic! With this in mind, pet owners should consider updating their will to include their beloved pet in the event they can no longer look after it. There are a number of options available, these include:

• RSPCA Home for Life service, where the RSPCA will do all they can to find your pets new and loving homes after your death on inserting an appropriate clause into your will. See below for further information:  https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/care/homeforlife/howitworks.
• Battersea Dogs and Cats Home Forever Loved scheme is free and offers dogs and cats care until they are rehomed. You will need to complete their application form and leave instructions in your will. Further information can be found here: https://www.battersea.org.uk/support-us/legacies-memory/forever-loved-service
• The Dogs Trust provide a free service guaranteeing a bereaved dog a home for life. Again, you will need to insert an appropriate clause into your will. The following link provides further more information https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/dog-care/canine-care-card?gclsrc=aw.ds&
• The Cinnamon Trust is another alternative specifically aimed at the elderly and the terminally ill offering assistance with any pets whilst you are still alive as well as after your death. http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/

There are also other options such as including leaving specific gifts to the above charities (charitable gifts are free of Inheritance Tax as the law currently stands).

If you’d like to find out more, or update your will to take account of your furry or feathery friends, please get in touch.

James.winfield@lewis-dick.com