What Is a Pet Trust and How Does It Work in Arizona?

An Arizona pet trust is a legally enforceable way to set money aside for your animal’s care if you die or become incapacitated. It lasts for the pet’s lifetime and ends when the last covered animal dies.

Arizona law recognizes trusts for the care of animals and allows a court or a person you name to enforce the terms if care is not provided. You can fund a pet trust during life or at death, including by using beneficiary forms for nonprobate transfers where allowed. A.R.S. § 14-10408 A.R.S. § 14-6101

In This Guide

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How a Pet Trust Works in Arizona

You appoint a trustee to handle money, a caregiver to provide day-to-day care, and you set the standard of care in writing.

Core features

• Trustee and caregiver: the trustee controls funds and oversight, the caregiver provides daily care.
• Enforcement: a person you name, or a court, can enforce the trust if care is not delivered.
• Reasonable funding: a court may reduce excessive funds if they far exceed what care requires.
• Remainder: when the animal dies, leftover money goes to the remainder beneficiary you name.

These rules come from Arizona’s animal trust statute. A.R.S. § 14-10408

How to Create and Fund an Arizona Pet Trust

Write a valid trust, identify the animals, appoint a trustee and caregiver, and choose how money flows into the trust.

Create the trust

Use a written trust that is valid under Arizona law, states the purpose, and names a trustee. Identify each animal clearly. Include authority for the trustee to pay the caregiver, reimburse expenses, and hire professionals when needed. A.R.S. § 14-10401

Funding options

• During life: transfer cash to the trust or designate a payable-on-death account to it.
• At death by will: use a pour-over clause so a set amount flows into the pet trust.
• By beneficiary form: where allowed, name the pet trust on an account that passes by beneficiary designation as a nonprobate transfer. A.R.S. § 14-6101

Costs and Practical Checklist

Estimate annual care costs, multiply by a reasonable life expectancy, add a cushion for emergencies, then name a remainder beneficiary for any funds left at the end.

Typical annual costs to budget

• Food, litter, routine supplies, grooming, and boarding.
• Wellness exams, vaccinations, dental care, medications, and a reserve for emergencies.
• Caregiver stipend, transportation, training or behavioral support if needed.

Setup checklist

• Identify pets clearly, keep microchip numbers and photos in a care memo.
• Choose a caregiver and a trustee, name backups for both.
• State the care standard and reporting cadence to the trustee.
• Pick funding sources and confirm how each will transfer into the trust.
• Name a remainder beneficiary for leftover funds when the trust ends. A.R.S. § 14-10408

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Small paperwork gaps cause big problems, so align the documents and beneficiaries on day one.

• No named enforcer: if no one is designated to enforce the trust, a court can step in, which adds time and cost. Name an individual to monitor care. A.R.S. § 14-10408
• Funding that does not arrive: beneficiary forms or pay-on-death designations are missing or point elsewhere. Verify each form so the money actually reaches the trust. A.R.S. § 14-6101
• Unclear pet identification: vague descriptions cause disputes. Use names, microchip numbers, and photos in a separate care memo kept with the trust.

Bottom Line

A pet trust gives you control, continuity, and a clear funding path for your animal’s lifetime. Document the care standard, lock in the funding, and name the people who will carry it out.