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 Nevada, pet owners can create a trust specifically for the care of their pets after the owner's death or incapacitation. Nevada law recognizes pet trusts under NRS 163.0075, which allows a trust to be created for the care of an animal alive during the settlor's lifetime. The trust remains in effect for the life of the animal or 21 years, whichever is shorter. The trust should detail how the funds are to be used for the pet's care, and a trustee must be named to manage the trust assets and ensure the pet's needs are met according to the trust terms. The statute also provides for the appointment of a caretaker and outlines the duties of the trustee, including the requirement to use the trust property solely for the intended benefit of the pets. If a trust is deemed to have excess funds beyond what is needed for the pet's care, the law addresses the distribution of those funds upon the termination of the trust.