Guardian Pet Trust Icon
Profile

Main Menu

Woman happily holding a small dog

Writing a Pet Trust?

Estate Planning and Elder Attorneys know Writing a Pet Trust goes beyond the law. It means writing pet care instructions which is not what you signed up for! But, Guardian Pet Trust did! And, we're here to help you!

Why Do We Want to Help?

Above all, Brenda Marks worried about the future of her 3-year-old poodle if something should happen to her. She enlisted the help of an Estate Planning Attorney to write a Pet Trust to solve this problem. Brenda wanted to protect her pet's lifestyle. If she could no longer provide care for her fur baby, she wanted to ensure the next Caretaker knew what to do. However, when Brenda received her final Pet Trust document from the Estate Planning Attorney, she realized two things:

1. She had no one to take care of her poodle even though she had the Pet Trust.
2. The Pet Trust gave broad directions for her pet's care but didn't go into any details.

Even though the Trust stated to walk her dog 3x daily, it didn't say to keep her in the shade. It didn't say that she should only have pink accessories. Additionally, it didn't say that Sunday was a special day because she got scrambled eggs for breakfast.

THE ANIMAL FOUNDATION AND CHARITY HAVE THE SOLUTION

As can be seen, these detailed pet care directions were important to Brenda. She wanted her dog to continue the lifestyle she was accustomed to. So, Brenda decided, in tribute to her husband, Edwin, to start the Edwin D Marks Animal Foundation. Their mission is to educate people about Pet Trusts and how to prepare them.

The Foundation grew. In addition to teaching people about Pet Trusts, Brenda wanted to actually help people prepare and implement them. Regulations made it difficult to do this within the Foundation. For that reason, Guardian Pet Trust was founded to continue the work of the Foundation.

Man with a dog
Older woman with a cat

The Goals of Guardian Pet Trust

Professionals discussing Guardian Pet Trust goals

• Provide Pet Trust-related services to prepare and implement all aspects of Pet Trusts

• Partner with Elder or Estate Planning Attorneys to help them prepare their clients’ pet’s Care Plan. Our Care Plan can then be used as an exhibit in the Pet Trust

• Impact our community’s shelters by increasing the number of dogs and cats with Pet Trusts. Every pet with a Pet Trust can leave an open spot in a shelter for a younger, more adoptable pet. This leads to more dogs and cats being rehomed and fewer pets euthanized.

Pet Trust Information Has Been Very Vague

Even Pet Trust Law Doesn't
Talk About How to Write the Trust

Until now there has been very limited and very vague information available to help Pet Owners and their Elder or Estate Planning Attorneys prepare a well-designed Pet Trust.

Woman with a dog sitting at a laptop

Florida Pet Trust Law Statute 736.0408 Only Points Out That:

Brenda Marks with her poodle

• All pets named in the Trust must be alive at the time of the writing of the Trust

• The Trust operates until the last pet named in the Trust dies

• The Trust can be enforced by a person appointed by the trustmaker or a person appointed by the court

• If the value of the Trust exceeds the amount needed to care for the pet, the excess must be distributed to the creator of the Trust, if still living, or to a residuary beneficiary named by the Trustmaker.

Our Pet Trust Care Plan Makes Your Job Easier

• We developed a process to write Care Plans for Pet Trusts. Our Care Plan can be used as an exhibit in an attorney- prepared Pet Trust

• We help identify the details for the care of the dog or cat and you take care of the legal wording of the Trust.

• We save you a lot of frustration and time. We simplify your Trust writing process.

Attorney with a dog

How Becoming a GPT Partner Benefits You

Older woman with a cat
Man with a dog
  • Check markYou gain notoriety as a Pet Trust Estate Planning Attorney and a valuable Pet Trust Resource!

  • Check markYou become a part of the solution to the inadequacies of Pet Trust law.

  • Check markIt decreases the amount of time you have to spend on writing the Pet portion of Pet Trusts

  • Check markYou are affiliated with a 501(c)3 Charity that wants to protect the future of our pets by promoting Pet Trusts

  • Check markYou gain valuable time for other legal endeavors

  • Check markClients needing Pet Trusts and Estate Planning Attorneys will seek your services!

  • Check markWhen you join us, we will post your picture, contact information, and link to your website on our website (Free Advertising)

If You've Made It This Far...
You Are The Partner We Want!

You know people love their pets. According to APPA's 2023-2024 survey, there are over 84 million homes in the US with pets! Some people love their dogs and cats as children. Some love them more than the children! When people are in the midst of estate planning, they want to find a way to take care of their fur babies. Together, in GPT Partnership, we offer a solution to protect the future of their pets.

• You have the legal expertise to write the Pet Trust.

• We have the process in place to write the individualized Pet Care Plan.

• Together, we have the best and most efficient Pet Trust Writing Process of all!

Estate planning encompasses a wide range of specialties. Why spend your valuable time finding out how many times a day Fido is fed or Wilma is walked? Spend your time on the legalities of estate planning and let GPT take care of the Pet Care Plan.

Older woman with a cat
Man with a dog
Attorney with a dog

What Do You Need To Do?

Click on the link and send us your contact information. A GPT representative will contact you to answer any questions you may have.

Become a member of GPT. (Everyone who is involved with GPT is required to become a member of our charity.)

After the details are worked out, we’ll add you to our website’s Valued Partners Page.

Background

Help Protect The Future Of Your Clients' Pets

Dogs and cats who've lost their owners temporarily or permanently need you.

Stop worrying about the Care Plan of a Pet Trust.

We'll take care of that for you!

Become A GPT Valued Partner Pet Trust Dogs And Cats Need You!

LET'S BE PARTNERS