Expertise

“Everything for the cat”

The recent case of Karl Lagerfeld’s Birman cat Choupette shows once again that it is becoming increasingly important for pet owners to know that their pets are well cared for even after their own death. Swiss law also allows for the bequeathing of part of the estate to the beloved four-legged friends – albeit in a roundabout way.

For example, animals do not have legal capacity and are therefore not eligible to inherit in the sense of Art. 539 of the Swiss Civil Code. However, legally clearly formulated clauses in wills or inheritance contracts can be used to specify exactly who is to care for the bequeathed animals, how and when.

Read the following article to find out exactly what such clauses can look like.