I don’t have any children, but I do have pets that are like children to me. How can I use estate planning to protect them?

You may create provisions in the Will that will protect your pets in the event that they outlive you. You may name a caregiver for them and provide that caregiver with funds to care for your pets. In the event that you might become incapacitated and unable to care for your pets on a temporary basis, you may also create a trust for your pet ahead of time. This trust ensures that you have set aside funds in a trust that are adequate for the caregiver to carry out your wishes. See North Carolina General Statute § 36C 4- 408.