Making Legal Decisions for Your Collection

Robin and I got talking so I thought I'd bring this to the forum in general.

What plans have you made for the legal disposition of your collection should the thing we never want to think about occur...your death or a medical condition that makes you unable to make decisions for your collection...whether that be one snake, lizard, parrot or a huge collection/business.

Until Robin brought it up I have to say I really didn't think about it but I guess Mike and I should really. Since they aren't property per se like your car or the big screen TV and aren't a dog that any relative might offer to take...what plans should we think about for their long term care. Are they by law just property? If so is the person inheriting able or willing to keep up their care?

Certain things like parrots, tortoises, etc. will naturally outlive you anyways. What plans or legal issues are involved in seeing that these beloved creatures go to a caring situation?

I certainly don't want to think about not being here for my family or my herps but I guess like our minor children, Mike and I should be thinking about this stuff.


~~Jo~~

Thanks for posting this, Jo! You can blame my "worrying" about it on the evening news here in Atlanta. Seems there's at least one fatality a week on the roads, and I think about "wow, that person got up the same as I did this morning, went to work, and never knew this would be their last day".


Then I wondered, what would Karl or my parents do with my collection? I know none of them would want to take on their care, and who would I want them to contact to take on my collection. The girls would be no problem, there are a few people I'd like to leave their names with Karl and my parents to contact in the event I am no longer here.

Kashmire will go to Jo! :hug: And of course, the hets shouldn't be a problem to re-home either. But if I didn't leave instructions, they likely would go to a rescue or the animal shelter.

Sorry for the morbid topic this morning, but it's been bothering me for some time now.

I don't think it's at all morbid Robin. I think it's very mature and far thinking and thank you for bringing it to the forefront. I really appreciate it. Like you I don't want our snakes to end up homeless in the unlikely event something happened to both Mike and I suddenly and we hadn't thought to leave immediate and accessible instructions for their future (doesn't help if you make plans then don't let anyone know where you left the paperwork or wait for a will to be probated).



~~Jo~~

That is a very good question and I cant wait to hear answers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

I don't think it's at all morbid Robin. I think it's very mature and far thinking and thank you for bringing it to the forefront. I really appreciate it. Like you I don't want our snakes to end up homeless in the unlikely event something happened to both Mike and I suddenly and we hadn't thought to leave immediate and accessible instructions for their future (doesn't help if you make plans then don't let anyone know where you left the paperwork or wait for a will to be probated).



~~Jo~~

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Now I have to break it to my mother that I don't have just one ball python, but 6 with 3 more definitely on the way! ;)

I gave this very topic some thought a while back since if anything happen to me no one in my family would have a clue as to what to do my bp.
So I sent my sister an email w/ info on Ozzy and I gave her this website to contact the folks here w/ any questions and for possible adoption
I figured this was the best thing to do and she would at least be able to find him a good home thru here and get the needed info to take care of him until that time.
Some what of a decent plan I do hope.

I've got some friends who are heavy into breeding and would give my guys a great future.....should something happen to me, those closest to me know who they are, and they are the ones who would likely end up with my collection.

i never really thought about that before. my mom does take care of them when im not here on weekends or something, but i dont know where they would go should something like that happen. i dont really have any friends or family that would/could take care of them so i would hope they will go to a good serpentarium, zoo, or something like that.

Very good questions there... and sadly, I really don't know... Karen and I are both very introverted in person and only really have one close friend who would take them in if anything happened to us, but she's got her hands full with her flock as it is. I know my family knows how much these critters mean to me, and would do their best, but it would be really hard...

Stuff like this is part of why I'm such a paranoid driver etc. I have a vivid imagination when it comes to the worst but I'm awful in an emergency. I'm also afraid that while the other animals would adopt to new homes relatively well, my cat's been with me for 17 years, is diagnosed as obsessive compulsive, and flips out if I'm away just a week. She greets me at the door and frets when I so much as go out to get the mail... she'd be so lost the very idea just breaks my heart...

I have to make up a will. I know who the animals go to, and will leave money for their care, as well as instructions on what to do should they not be able to keep them.
I have only not done this because I have been attempting to decide where everything should go. But I have discussed this with the person, who has agreed.
wolfy

this shouldn't only be considered because of a death in the family. this should also be considered for few other reasons. I got a semi-plan in case I get orders to a place where I can't take my snakes. I will be taking mine to my mom what she can handle. My semi-plan is to give them away on forums or something. Who ever I got the animals from would have first dibs if they decided they wanted them back. The rest would go up for adoption. If we just died, they would go with the kids.

As far as the legal disposition, your snakes, enclosures, etc. ARE property and would be probated with your estate unless you had a will in place.

Important detail. In almost every state, all pets (Even the dog that you talk to like a kid) is property.

K

This is an interesting question and one I need to consider. If something happened to me, I dont think that my fiance could/would want to handle the care of the 14+ snakes (and growing quickly). Its something I will definitely talk to her about and hopefully we can come up with something.

They may in the eye of the law be property and go to probate, but mine would be gone on to their new home before any of that could happen.
I mean who is gonna bust out and tell ???
I think if you have someone who will come get them asap who is gonna contest ownership of your snake?
But I guess in some cases it could happen and that is good to know.