Because the law considers pets personal property and not human beings, pets cannot own property, and a pet owner cannot leave money or assets to a pet in a will or a trust. But a pet owner can provide for the care and well-being of a pet or pets in a traditional trust or in a statutory pet trust (authorized under a state’s statutes).

For example, the pet owner (known as the grantor, settlor, or trustor) will create a trust for a named pet or pets (the beneficiary or beneficiaries of the trust), place money or income-producing assets in the trust and name a trustee to manage and administer the trust for the benefit of the pet or pets, as provided in the trust agreement.

For a brief summary of each state’s pet trust laws and the state statutes where you can find them, copy and paste this URL in your internet browser: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-planning/pet-trust-laws

In Alaska, pet owners can create a trust to provide for the care and well-being of their pets after the owner's death or incapacitation. Alaska Statute § 13.12.907 allows for the creation of a pet trust, which is a legally recognized arrangement that ensures that an owner's pet or pets are taken care of according to the instructions laid out in the trust document. The trust can be created specifically for the pet and can designate a trustee to manage the assets and care for the pet as directed by the trust terms. The trust remains in effect for the life of the pet or, if it covers more than one pet, for the life of the last surviving animal. This legal tool ensures that pets are not left without care or resources in the event their owner can no longer provide for them.