Left in Good Paws: Why More People Are Writing Their Pets Into Their Wills

When Margaret Forsythe, a retired teacher from Milton Keynes, updated her will last autumn, she spent almost as much time on the section relating to her two rescue dogs as she did on the financial provisions for her children. She had appointed a named carer, set aside a dedicated fund for veterinary bills, and included two pages of typed notes; feeding schedules, favourite walks, the specific brand of anxiety medication one of the dogs requires every morning.

“They are family,” she says simply. “I couldn’t bear the thought of them ending up somewhere that didn’t understand them.”

Margaret is far from alone. Across the United Kingdom, estate planners are reporting a marked surge in clients seeking to include detailed provisions for their animals within their wills. What was once considered an eccentric footnote to an estate plan has quietly become a mainstream concern for millions of pet owners, and getting it right requires thoughtful, considered planning.

The UK has long held a reputation as a nation of animal lovers, but the pandemic fundamentally changed the relationship many people have with their pets. The sharp rise in pet ownership between 2020 and 2022, driven by lockdowns, remote working, and a search for companionship, left many households with animals that had become deeply woven into daily life. For older owners in particular, the question of what happens to a much-loved dog or cat became impossible to ignore.

The statistics reflect this shift. Estate planners across England, Scotland, and Wales have noted a significant increase in clients requesting pet-related clauses, with some firms reporting that the subject now arises in roughly one in five will consultations — up from a small minority just a decade ago. The types of provisions being requested have also grown considerably more sophisticated.

There is an important legal reality that any responsible estate planner will explain early in the conversation: under English and Welsh law, animals are classified as property. This means you cannot leave money directly to a pet in the same way you might to a person or a registered charity. A will that attempts to do so is likely to fail on that specific point.

However, there are effective and legally sound alternatives. The most common is a pet trust or a carefully drafted letter of wishes — a document that sits alongside the will and provides detailed instructions for a named individual who is left both the animal and a sum of money to cover its care. The person receiving the pet (often called a pet guardian) takes on legal responsibility, and the accompanying funds are intended to meet ongoing costs such as food, grooming, boarding, and veterinary treatment.

Some owners go further still, stipulating conditions on how that money should be spent, or naming a secondary guardian in the event that the first is unable to take on the responsibility. Others include provisions that redirect any unspent funds to an animal welfare cause once the pet has died — ensuring that their generosity extends beyond their own animals.

Perhaps the most striking trend is the depth of personal detail that owners now wish to include. It is no longer unusual for a client to arrive with a typed document outlining their pet’s personality, daily routine, dietary quirks, medical history, and even their preferences for human company or other animals. For some, this reflects a practical concern — ensuring continuity of care for an elderly or unwell animal. For others, it is simply an expression of the profound bond they share.

Cat owners, dog owners, horse owners, and even those with exotic birds or reptiles are participating in this trend. The needs and complexities vary enormously: a horse requiring ongoing livery costs presents very different planning challenges to a domestic cat, but the underlying motivation is the same. A desire to ensure that the animal’s welfare does not become an afterthought.

“The question is not whether your pet matters to you, it clearly does. The question is whether your wishes are documented clearly enough to protect them.”

Estate planners consistently highlight that the choice of guardian is the single most important decision in any pet provision. A financial bequest, however generous, means little if the named carer is unsuitable, unwilling, or simply unaware of the responsibility being placed upon them. The conversation must happen during the owner’s lifetime, ideally documented, and ideally involving the guardian’s written acceptance.

For those who have no suitable person in their lives, a well-structured will can still provide peace of mind by setting out clear instructions and the financial means to facilitate responsible rehoming, something a qualified estate planner can help you think through carefully.

Underlying all of this is a broader cultural shift. The idea that a pet is simply property — to be distributed or rehomed without particular consideration — sits uncomfortably with the reality of modern pet ownership, in which animals are companions, confidants, and in many households, central members of the family unit.

At Maple Wills, we work with clients every day who feel genuine relief when they discover that their wishes can, with careful drafting, be given real legal weight. The conversation is no longer unusual. It is, increasingly, simply part of what it means to plan responsibly for the future, and for everyone you love.

Our team can help you put the right provisions in place, so that your pet is cared for exactly as you would wish.