@sharonmcnight I am 72-years old and I live with a partner. He and I have both carefully worked with an attorney to plan our wills. I figure at some point I will be alone and while it will be a huge adjustment I know I can get through it.

I volunteer in the animal shelter and welfare community where I live. I don't have any family in the area where I live. I do have a brother and niece who are in California but that's far away from where I live in Michigan.

We see so many pets come through shelters because their person became very ill, went to assisted living residences, long term care facilities, or passed away. For this reason I included my pets in my will. I thought this out carefully with my attorney while revising my will. Michigan law allows for pets to be included in a trust so you may like to check in to that in the state where you reside.

I named an executor who I trust to carry out the wishes in my will and trust.

I don't refer to my pets by name because I may have other pets in the future or my current pets may be gone (through death) by the time I die. I name friends in my will who have agreed to care for my pets should something happen to me. I talked with these friends ahead of time in order to come to an agreement and I've left funds in my will to care for my pets. I also state in my will that none of my pets can be surrendered to an animal shelter.

I am saying all of this because if you are like me you consider your pets to be your family. I want to stay healthy for as long as I am able and to have my pets by my side.

Here is some information from the Best Friends Society on Estate Planning for Pets:

-- https://bestfriends.org/pet-care-resources/estate-planning-pets-preparing-will-or-trust