How To “Will” Your Parrot & Train The Second Hand Owner?

[Polarn]

Liz basicly suggested what i had as a suggestion for you, rather than willing the bird into someones care you could will it to someone that would care enough for them to find them a good home and that you trust to do so, that way that person can get an input in how those of the persons you are thinking of right now is living at that time when something happens to you, if their in college, or already graduated, perhaps their workaholics? things that is impossible to know about the future about someone else, since you don't want to restrict the future owner (if the birds outlive you) to do their choices in life as if they have already got a bird. I know we as birdowners, well any pet owner does different choices in life, we choose places to work that allows us to be home enough, we doesnt travel as much etc etc. So I would, if I were you find someone who you trust to help you find a good home for your birds once you pass away and will it to that person, also, that way if that person happens to pass away before you, weather it be of age or accident, you can still change the person you put this responsibility on to someone else in your will. that way you can actually have friends no matter their age to take on this responsibility if their willing too.

[Shelby]

The reason why I was thinking next generation (start with younger) is because parrots outlive us, and adult generation, therefore, there’s always a chance they could pass away somewhere around the time we do, because they’re same generation. Know what I mean? What do you think?

I am still convinced that a responsible person in their mid-20s, who has finished school/college and has a stable job and an apartment that allows pets is your best bet. Someone younger (elementary school or high school) won't have a job to pay for the care of the bird and the parents may not allow them to keep it. Let's say that 20-year old you will your bird to lives into their 70's - that's 50 years with your bird.

Shelters may be another medium, and that may be used as a last resort. What kind of shelters would I look at? All I really know about is the SPCA, and I think they only keep animals for two weeks, and if no one adopts them, they kill them.

Do you have a Humane Society where you live? Or a parrot rescue nearby? Maybe your avian vet would be able to connect you with someone or an organization that would be able to help you.

The other people who have posted to this thread have also made some good suggestions.

[Maria]

I think or I am hoping I have made a step of progress with this.

I have been invited, by the president of the Houston Avicultural Association to join their group/organization, meet some of their members, and hopefully form friendships that could lead me to a person I seek for this.

I was referred to this president of this organization by the president of the National Parrot Rescue and Preservation Foundation (NPRPF). The president of this organization referred me to the Houston Avicultural Association because the members are local, and it's best for a situation like this to deal locally.

The president of the Houston Avicultural Association, and I, have started off in a bit of email correspondence back and forth. She said this is something all of us are dealing with or will have to deal with.

She also said the following:

"About a year ago, we had a lawyer who specializes in setting up trusts come and speak to us about setting up a trust to take care of our parrots after we are gone. There are a lot of things to think about and a will is not necessarily the best way to handle that. A trust would probably be a better bet for the bird's sake.
I have not set a trust up yet, but it is on my "to do list". The lawyer who talked to our club is Elyssa Schnurr, she was very helpful and informative, has an office in the Montrose area."

I also informed her of and shared with her the following:

I have also spoken to another lawyer who sounded good, upon my research of lawyers. His name is Ross De Paul. I work for AT&T, a Union company. He provided legal services at discounted rates to our company union members. He also advised me that (and this info may be helpful to you too) - I should name an alternate care person to make sure and find Baby a good home (second hand owner), temporarily caring for the bird in the meantime, for the reason of if the person who is primarily named to inherit Baby upon my passing, pre-deceases me.
Also advised I might think about the importance of hand writing something in the mean time, that should anything happen to me, take care of my bird, until I get the Will drawn up.
I believe we were also discussing Trust in combination with Will. (good combination, yes I think the trust part is very important).
$125.00 for Will.

So what we need in our plan basically is: Beneficiary, to provide training to that person, and a lawyer to draw up the documentation, and advise and guide us! Be careful of lawyer situations who only want to rake in your money to draw up documentation, but not be there to guide and handle things along the way. Ross De Paul sounded like he was "not" one of these types {giggle}. He's a good man. It's also always good if you can get someone who is "recommended", if you know what I mean. . I got a good feeling about him, after talking with several others. So now we have two good lawyer sources due to sharing info, which members can use .

** New laws have established a trust that will care for a pet after one’s death.
** A Trust to avoid probate and immediately transfer my parrot to beneficiary upon my passing.

Below is a bit more broken down plan of what's needed, which I have thus far made for myself. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS PLAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TRUST FOR BABY – Goal: Establish Second Hand Owner in Legal Documentation

Provide for his care for his life after my passing

Provide Bird Care Training

Set up documentation with Lawyer

STAGE I:

FIND OUT WHAT YOU NEED IN THE PROCESS

AND HOW THE PROCESS WORKS . . .

Band # - Baby – double yellow headed amazon
** (complete baby’s purchase contract with andrea.)

Trustor – Trustmaker – person who creates the trust agreement. Person setting up the trust.
Trustee – person or entity responsible for managing the property that the trustor decides to title in the name of the trust. Person in charge of the trust
Beneficiary – the person or entity who is to receive the benefits of the property that is titled in the name of the trust

Find that person through members of bird groups and bird associations/organizations.
Meet some of the members of the Houston Avicultural Association; hopefully form friendships that could lead me to the person I seek. ** mass posting or mass email **!?
July 6, 2012, (Friday), also spoke to Kiesha, RE: message for Julia, if interested; as she’d mentioned she was thinking about getting a bird for her child.

** new laws have established a trust that will care for a pet after one’s death
** trust to avoid probate and immediately transfer Baby to beneficiary upon my passing
An appropriate candidate interested in being the beneficiary, who will accept this responsibility, committing to be the “Second Hand Owner” of Baby.
Prerequisite of Beneficiary: I provide FREE “Bird Care Training” to this person on a consistent, scheduled basis.
Training sessions every two weeks on weekends, until training is complete. (training will take approximately a year and a half to complete.)
Scheduled dates of training sessions agreed upon first, per scheduling, calendarizing, prioritorizing together.
If person misses two scheduled training dates, person is disqualified, and another candidate will be chosen. (goal of importance to complete training, in order to get beneficiary named in legal documentation as soon as possible).
Local for training purposes as well as easy transfer (can’t live too far away).
Alternate, temporary care person would need to be willing to learn basic bird care.
For if primary person pre-deceases me.
Responsibility of alternate care person: to make sure and find Baby a good home (a good “Second Hand Owner”), temporarily caring for the bird in the meantime
hand writing something in the mean time, that should anything happen to me, take care of my bird, until I get the Will drawn up.

Lawyer(s):
Ross De Paul: Had spoken to him after sending detailed email of what I want. (HE called ME! in response to my email !! )
Advised I should name an alternate care person to make sure and find Baby a good home (second hand owner), temporarily caring for the bird in the meantime, for the reason of if the person who is primarily named to inherit Baby upon my passing, pre-deceases me.
Also advised I might think about the importance of hand writing something in the mean time, that should anything happen to me, take care of my bird, until I get the Will drawn up.
I believe we were also discussing Trust in combination with Will.
$125.00 for Will.

Elyssa Schnurr: specializes in setting up trusts. Spoke to the Houston avicultural assoc. about setting up trusts to take care of parrots after passing. Trust is better bet for bird’s sake. Will is not necessarily best way to handle. Trust in combination with Will would be good. Ms. Schnurr’s office is in the Montrose area.


It is great to have found a bird/parrot organization where we can all benefit from sharing knowledge/information, help eachother, have birds in common, and make great friends!!