Cats Inherit Enough to Last Nine Lives

Thanks to their devoted late owner, two cats have more than enough money to last their nine lives. 

New York resident Ellen Frey-Router died in 2015 at age 88. Her will specified that $300,000 of her approximately $3 million estate was to go to her beloved felines, Troy and Tiger. She left instructions for their care that included regular grooming and veterinary visits, and specified that they must "never be caged." She named two of her health aides to care for the cats and manage their money. Troy now lives with Rita Pohila. And Tiger, once a stray, has "retired" to Florida with Dahlia Grizzle, who says he's "a wonderful cat."

Frey-Wouter had worked for the United Nations. Her husband predeceased her and the couple had no children. Her only relative, a sister who lives in the Netherlands, will receive any monies left over after the cats pass away. Most of Frey-Wouter's estate went to her lawyer, several charities and her home health aides.

Troy and Tiger's inheritances are modest compared to some cases that made headlines in recent years. Hotel magnate Leona Helmsley left her Maltese $12 million and nothing to her family, although a judge later pared down the dog's inheritance to "just" $2 million. Wealthy Miami Beach resident Gail Posner, daughter of leveraged buyout king Victor Posner, left her dog $11 million, and her son, Brett Carr, $1 million. Stockbroker Muriel Siebert left $100,000 for the care and maintenance of her chihuahua. 


But by all accounts, the world's richest canine heir is Gunther IV. The German Shepherd inherited his fortune from his sire, Gunther III - who inherited his fortune from his deceased owner, German Countess Karlotta Liebenstein. Liebenstein's original bequest was $80 million, but with wise investments, the pooch's portfolio now stands at about $400 million.

These ridiculous sums aside, many people provide for their pets in their estate plans to ensure that a pet that outlives them does not end up in a shelter, on the street or euthanized. Florida law since 2003 has allowed pets to be named as beneficiaries. Talk to our estate planning attorneys about making arrangements for your pet.

Monster Girl gets a monster inheritance

Who is Monster Girl, you ask? Why, she is the late Muriel Siebert's chihuahua. Like Siebert, the first woman to hold a seat on the once all-male New York Stock Exchange, the diminutive pooch with the big name was never afraid of hanging out with the big dogs. 

Siebert died in August 2013. According to her will filed recently in New York surrogate court, Siebert left $100,000 to a close friend to use for the welfare and maintenance of Monster Girl. Among her requests: that the dog not be left alone for long periods of time during the day.

Siebert never married or had children. Most of the balance of her approximately $50 million fortune is going to her foundation, whose main goals are encouraging financial literacy and promoting animal welfare, particularly efforts to help animals "owned by the elderly who are financially challenged."  She also left money to her sister, who currently resides in a Bronx, NY nursing home; to friends; and to New York City's Animal Medical Center. 

Do you want to make sure your beloved pet is well cared if you are no longer around? Relying on informal arrangements does not always work out; many pets are abandoned every year because the decedent's relatives or friends, albeit well-intentioned, could not care for the animal.

If you live in Florida, you may include a pet as beneficiary of your Florida estate plan to ensure that he/she is in good hands. Contact The Karp Law Firm to discuss your options for protecting your pet. It doesn't take a fortune to ensure your pet's care: your pet can do quite well on considerably less than the $100,000 the privileged Monster Girl is set to inherit.

Trustees give cat a new lease on one of her nine lives

When Georgia Lee Dvorak died on Christmas Eve at age 74, she left behind no family, just a beloved black cat named Boots. But her owner's death was just the beginning of bad news for Boots. According to Dvorak'sWill, any cats she owned at the time of her death were to be euthanized. 

Despite how it sounds, the Chicago resident was an animal lover, leaving her $1million plus estate to various animal welfare organizations. So why did Dvorak want Boots euthanized? Neighbors speculate that because Boots had been abused by former owners, Dvorak was making sure her pet would never end up in that situation again.

Fortunately, Boots has gotten a new lease on one of her nine lives, thanks to the Trustees of Dvorak's estate at a Chicago bank. Animal lovers themselves, they petitioned the Cook County Court to set aside that provision of the Will. The request was granted, and Boots is now living at a cage-free sanctuary.

If you are planning your estate and have a beloved pet, you do not have to do what Dvorak did. A Pet Trust can provide for your pet's welfare and care in the event that it outlives you. Contact our Florida estate planning lawyers for more information about Pet Trusts.  For a video about Boots' plight and rescue, click here.

Pet trusts provide peace of mind

The late Gail Posner bequeathed $11 million to her beloved chihuahua, Conchita. Her son got a relatively paltry $1 million. As you can guess, he is now suing his mother's estate, claiming that she was pressured by her staff to change her will to provide handsomely for Conchita's caretakers - namely, them. You may not have $11 million to lavish on your pet, but I'm betting you love your Fifi or Fido just as much as Posner loved Conchita, and want to be sure he'll be well cared for if he outlives you. I am mindful of what my wife witnessed at the animal shelter when adopting our newest canine treasure: Someone brought in a 13-year-old teacup poodle whose owner had died. The tiny creature was trembling with fear. I imagine the chances of its being adopted were slim; even if someone wants to adopt a senior pet, the vet bills are quite a deterrent.

The good news is that 44 of 50 states now have legal mechanisms that allow you to protect your pet in your estate plan.  And Florida is one of those states. While you can rely on informal arrangements - a grandchild or a neighbor who agrees to take your pet, say - you may prefer the peace of mind that comes with more formal arrangements. A Pet Trust can provide you with that peace of mind. When you establish a Pet Trust, you fund it with monies for the care of your pet and appoint a trustee to care for him. You also appoint beneficiaries who will receive whatever monies remain in the trust when the pet passes away. The trust can be created while you are alive, or at your death  through provisions in your Florida will or your Revocable Trust. Be sure to discuss these concerns with your Certified Elder Law Attorney!