Law Firm Adds Equine & Pet Trust Planning to its List of Services

Worcester, MA, March 30, 2011--- Estate Preservation Law Offices (EPLO), of Worcester, MA, recently expanded its estate planning services to include a specialized Equine & Pet Trust Planning component.

This new practice area is in response to the new Massachusetts law, called "An Act Relative to Trusts for the Care of Animals", which was passed in January and authorizes the creation of legally enforceable trusts to provide for the care of pets. The law, which covers horses, dogs, cats and other loyal companion pets, goes into effect in mid-April. Trusts for pets are not a new phenomenon; several countries, most notably England, have allowed wills to contain provisions for pets for over a century. Since most pet owners consider their pets part of the family, it is hardly surprising that they feel the need to ensure their pets are well cared for. In the United States, over 43 states have already enacted such legislation.

Previously, Massachusetts residents could only name a caretaker for the pet, leave money to the caretaker, and hope that the caretaker honored their wishes with regard to their pet's care.  However, there was no legal obligation for the caretaker to spend the money on care, or, for that matter, to even keep the pet. 

According to Melissa Gleick, associate attorney at Estate Preservation Law Offices, "Adding Equine & Pet Trust Planning to our practice is a natural extension of the estate planning process. Until now, we did not have a truly effective option to provide for clients' pets. With this new law, pet owners in Massachusetts may now take comfort in the fact that they can legally provide for their beloved animals if they become disabled or die."

Estate Preservation Law Offices of Worcester , MA is a law firm whose skilled professionals are committed to protecting clients' assets during the ir lifetime and preserving the m for future generations - through integrated estate and asset protection planning. Their broad range of vital services include: estate planning, asset protection planning through domestic and foreign techniques, business and corporate planning, corporate and individual tax planning, elder and Medicaid planning, estate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, retirement planning, special needs and disability planning, financial aid planning, charitable and exempt organizations, and equine and pet trust planning.

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