PetWill Radio

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

How to provide for pets in your will - A news story by Cynthia Smoot Fox Tampa Bay

Thanks to Cynthia Smoot of Fox Tampa Bay for her great story on planning for your pets!  Thanks to friends Don and Dana Ibold for sharing their story.  Thank you to every pet owner who cares enough to plan for their pets.  This story features me ( Peggy Hoyt) and my furry faced kid family.  

If you haven't made plans for your pets, the time is now.  It can be as simple or complex as you desire.  Leave your pet to a trusted family member or friend.  Create a pet trust to ensure your pets have care for the rest of their lives.  Consider a perpetual care facility if you don't have trusted family or friends.  There are lots of options.  Our pets are like our children, they deserve to have a secure future. 

How to provide for pets in your will

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

How to Have "The Talk" | Words to Use -- and Avoid | Caring.com

This is one of the hardest things to do with our aging parents - "have the talk" - whatever the topic.  This is good advice.  Let me know what you think.  Peggy Hoyt 

How to Have "The Talk" | Words to Use -- and Avoid | Caring.com

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Just Released! The Pet Lover's Guide to Mediation by Peggy Hoyt

Just released and now available on Amazon in Kindle - The Pet Lover's Guide to Mediation written by Peggy Hoyt  

You can order your copy for download today!  Only $2.99! 

The Pet Lover’s Guide to Mediation is a first-of-its-kind glimpse into the world of how mediation can successfully be used to resolve pet related disputes.  Disputes related to pets could include pet custody (especially in a divorce or separation), landlord and tenant issues, boarding, breeding or grooming contract disagreements, pet lemon law violations, and veterinary malpractice, just to name a few.  

The court system isn’t designed to address the unique concerns of pets and their owners.  Not all disputes can be resolved by the payment of money.  When pets are involved, creativity and out-of-the-box thinking are required to craft a solution that works to the advantage of all parties – but especially the pets.  

Pets are family too!  When they have legal issues that can’t be easily resolved, mediation may be the answer.  The Pet Lover’s Guide to Mediation answers your questions about the mediation process and how you can use it to your greatest advantage. 


 

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Friday, February 15, 2013

What a Tangled Web We Leave - WSJ.com

This lengthy and informative article has a lot of good suggestions for avoiding some of the problems that can be faced when a loved one dies.  One of the newest and biggest problems is the inability to access online accounts for financial transactions if you don't know the usernames and passwords.

We recommend keeping an accessible list of all usernames and passwords so your loved ones can easily access your online financial information.  In the soon to be released "Straight Talk! What to Do When Someone Dies" authors Peggy Hoyt and Debbie Roser discuss a number of suggestions for making sure loved ones don't have to face the "morbid scavenger hunt" when someone dies.  

I strongly disagree with one bit of advice found in this article.  The author makes a number of suggestions for adding a spouse's name to individually owned property.  This may or may not be good advice.  There may be second or blended marriage reasons for not adding a spouse's name.  There are asset protection issues to think about before adding another person's name to anything, not to mention possible gift tax, documentary stamp tax or other tax reasons to consider.  Adding another person's name to an asset just to avoid probate is not a wise decision.  Probate has been labeled as a "four letter word" when probate actually serves a valuable purpose - identifying assets, paying creditors and making proper distributions in accordance with a person's written instructions - their Last Will.  Joint ownership can cause uncertainty and result in unintended beneficiaries if all of the possible ramifications are not explored. 

Before taking any advice from an article or a well-meaning friend, consult with your trusted estate planning counsel. 

What a Tangled Web We Leave - WSJ.com

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

"Like a Library Burning" by Scott Farnsworth and Peggy Hoyt mentioned in Margaret May February 2013 Newsletter

 Margaret May has highlighted "Like a Library Burning - Saving and Sharing a Lifetime of Stories" by Scott Farnsworth and Peggy Hoyt in her February 2013 newsletter.  Scott Farnsworth and I wrote this book as a means to focus on the importance of preserving family legacies - either in written form, in a voice recording, or with a video or other creative way.

My father, John A. Hoyt, always said he was going to write a book called,  "Letters to My Children."  As the oldest of his four daughters I, of course, assumed it would hold some interesting insights about me and our relationship.  I was anxious for him to do get busy and write this very important book.  Sadly, he never got around to writing the book but a few years before his death, my sister Julie Hoyt Dorman and I compiled a collection of letters, sermons and speeches he had written throughout his lifetime in a book entitled "I Live But Once."

Don't wait until it's too late to capture those precious memories that are gone forever when a loved one dies.  Order your copy of "Like a Library Burning" today.  You can order from Amazon.com or contact my office HoytBryan.com for an autographed copy.

You can read Margaret May's newsletter here: 
E-News from Margaret May - February 2013

Sunday, February 10, 2013

A Pet's Last Will & Testament


Before humans die, they write their last Will & Testmanet, give their home and all they have to those they leave behind.  If, with my paws, I could do the same, this is what I'd ask...

To a poor and lonely stray I'd give:
My happy home.
My bowl & cozy bed, soft pillows and all my toys.
The lap, which I loved so much.
The hand that stroked my fur & the sweet voice which spoke my name.

I'd Will to the sad, scared shelter dog, the place I had in my human's loving heart, of which there seemed no bounds.

So, when I die, pleasae do not say, "I will never have a pet again, for the loss and pain is more than I can stand."

Instead, go find an unloved dog, one whose life has held nojoy or hope and give MY place to HIM.

This is the only thing I can give...
                       The love I left behind.. 


Tuesday, February 5, 2013

The AKC names the 10 Most Popular Dog Breeds for 2012 | TIME.com

You can read the article but here's the list:
10.  Dachshund
9. Rottweiler
8. Poodle
7. Boxer
6. Yorkshire Terrier
5. English Bulldog
4. Beagle
3. Golden Retriever
2. German Shepherd
1. Labrador Retriever

I love them all, but my favorite breed of choice is Rescue!  

10. Dachshund | Long Live the Lab! The AKC names the 10 Most Popular Dog Breeds for 2012 | TIME.com