People who reach an advanced age face a number of different challenges, and many of them are emotional and psychological. When your children are long gone and your spouse and other family members and friends have passed away, you can feel lonely, plain and simple. In addition, you can question your purpose in life, and this can lead to sadness and depression. You may not have any motivation to get outside and get some exercise and fresh air, and this can add to the general malaise.
A one step response to the above issues could be to get yourself a pet. Owning a dog or a cat can give you a renewed sense of purpose because you suddenly have a family member of sorts who is relying on you. In addition, the fact that the pet is going to need some entertainment and exercise can keep you active. Some types of pets can actually provide you with protection, and it can be a joy to watch their antics, which is indescribably uplifting and you really can’t place a value on a heartfelt smile or a genuine chuckle.
But of course, if you were to enter into pet ownership late in life you would have to consider the possibility that you may outlive your pet. For this reason pet planning is important, and along these lines the first order of business would be to find someone who is willing and able to take care of your pet.
Once you have found a suitable caretaker you have to make sure that your pet is provided for financially. One option is to leave a direct bequest to the person who will be caring for your pet in your will. Another avenue that is available to people who live in Connecticut would be the creation of a pet trust. To find out more about pet planning, simply take a moment to arrange for an initial consultation with an experienced estate planning attorney.
Mr. Nirenstein is licensed to practice before the courts of the State of Connecticut and the United States District Court. He is a member of the Connecticut and Hartford County Bar Associations, and the Estate and Probate, Elder Law, Business Law and Real Estate Sections of the Connecticut Bar Association.
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