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August marks the end of summer and the start of a new school year, but it is also Make It Your Own National Month! Many people put off making a will, but PETA offers several free online resources to help simplify this important step in planning your legacy.
Free planning publications
Estate planning is a vital way to ensure that your wishes are fulfilled. Completing your real estate plans can give you peace of mind and confidence that those who matter most to you are protected and that your wishes for a lasting legacy will be fulfilled.
To help you build your legacy, we’ve put together a library of free publications with helpful worksheets and checklists to help you set your personal and financial goals and take care of all of your loved ones, including your companion animals.
At PETA.org/Resources you can access these and other free publications:
- Beginning is a simple guide to the basics of will and trust planning to help you define your options and set your goals.
- How to organize is a handy workbook with forms and checklists to help you take into account different aspects of your planning and help you gather all the information you need.
- Planning for the future of your companion animal and your peace of mind contains important information to help you lovingly meet the needs of the person you are talking to.
- Easy Ways to Build Your Legacy explores ways to make animal welfare a part of her life now and in the future.
Planning companion animals
One of the most overlooked – but most important! – the planning aspects of the estate is preparing for the future of your companion animals when you can no longer take care of them. Our companion animals are an integral part of our lives, and we know that they are completely dependent on us. It is imperative to include important steps in the planning of your estate to ensure the long-term well-being of your animals and make their transition to life as stress-free as possible.
PETA’s Companion Animal Planning Package walks you through this process. The package includes a detailed 12-page booklet on short-term and long-term care needs, emergency cards and a window sticker, and instruction sheets for emergency responders, family and friends.
Below are some of the most important planning steps detailed in our package:
- Short term care: Make an emergency plan. Identify one or more people you trust who can come to your home at any time to take care of your animals and comfort them until long term care is arranged. It is important that the person is familiar with your animals and vice versa.
- Long-term permanent care: Find caregivers you trust. Choose a permanent guardian or guardians for your animals now. Choose someone who is reliable, capable and ready to take full responsibility for your animals. It is recommended that one or more backup guardians be appointed whenever possible.
- Important information: Files for each of your animals should be kept and stored at your home. They will be helpful in the event of an emergency and can be used to find the best new homes for your animals. (Our planning package contains forms for all of this information.)
- Formalize your plans: Consult with your attorney to draw up a plan for your estate, including securing the future of your companion animals (for example, through a provision in your will or a “pet trust” now allowed in most US states).
- Prepare for emergencies: Stick the Please Save Our Animals sticker in a place that is visible from the outside of your home, such as a window or door, in case of an emergency. (This sticker is also included in our planning package.)
Create your will online for free
The compassion and vision of PETA supporters like you, who share our determination to give animals a brighter, better future, has not changed in the four decades of advancing the animal rights movement. That is why we are pleased to offer you a resource that will help protect not only your the future, but also the future of those you love and care about: a free online tool to create your legal testament! We partnered with FreeWill to make this tool available to all PETA supporters.
This is how it works. You can use this tool to either create the necessary information so that a lawyer can complete your will, or – if appropriate for your situation – create a legal document that you are ready to print and execute. as your real will. As part of this process, you will have the opportunity to immortalize your animal heritage with a PETA gift in your ownership plans that will support our work to save lives for future generations.
In addition to our free resources, our legacy gift planning team is ready to help and will be happy to help you create your long-term plans and spread your compassion for animals in the future. Contact us today!
Our 30-day heritage competition is also held as part of National Creativity Month. If we meet our goal of reaching 30 new legacies within 30 days of August, a generous PETA member has pledged to donate $ 30,000 to support our kennel program. Please complete the form here to notify us of your participation in the 30 Day Legacy Challenge. Your legacy commitment will help animals today by discovering remedies that will bring fundamental relief to dogs struggling to survive the heat of summer.
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Have you already made the gracious decision to include PETA among the beneficiaries of your estate plans? Please let us know so we can thank you for your generosity and welcome you to our August Club! We are honored to have you join the ranks of special supporters like you, who have already made us a hereditary gift of their own free will, by your trust, or by the designation of the beneficiary.
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