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Wills and Estate Planning

What Will Your Legacy Be?

For over 130 years, the Kentucky Humane Society (KHS) has been a champion for companion animals. As a private, non-profit organization, KHS receives no city, state or federal funding, nor are we affiliated with other humane organizations.

The decision to include KHS in your will or estate plans shows a sincere commitment to the future care of pets in our community and a desire for your legacy of compassion to continue for years to come.

FreeWill: A Free Resource to Protect Your Pets

Ready to get started? We’ve partnered with FreeWill to share a free will-writing resource to make it easier than ever to create your legacy with KHS. Using this online tool, you can complete a legal will in 20 minutes or less. FreeWill is quick, easy, and completely FREE!





Tax Information

Legal Name: Kentucky Humane Society Animal Rescue League, Inc.
Administrative Address: Development Department, 1000 Lyndon Lane Suite B, Louisville, KY 40222
Tax ID #: 61-0463938
Type of organization: 501(c)(3)


Lifelong Friends Legacy Society

Supporters who name KHS in their will or estate plans are recognized as members of an exclusive group called Lifelong Friends.

Benefits of membership include:

If you have already included KHS in your will or another type of planned gift, thank you. We encourage all Lifelong Friends to notify us of their intentions, as it allows KHS to plan for the future. All information is confidential.  We acknowledge and respect those who wish to remain anonymous.


Or contact Kristin Binkowski, Donor & Estate Planning Specialist at 502-515-3147 or [email protected]  to learn more about creating your legacy today!


Planning for Your Animals

The relationship we have with our companion animals is a very special one. One of the most loving things we can do for our animals is to make arrangements for their well-being when we are no longer able to provide care. Planning for life’s uncertainties will bring you peace of mind for your animal(s) future.

Pet Guardianship Program

The Pet Guardianship Program is an exclusive benefit for members of KHS’ Lifelong Friends Society. With a gift in your will of any size to KHS, you can enroll your dog or cat in our Pet Guardianship Program. KHS will be there for your pets when you no longer can. Please contact Kristin Binkowski at 502-515-3147 or [email protected] for more information about enrolling in the Pet Guardianship Program.

Equine Guardianship Program

The Equine Guardianship Program, also a benefit for members of KHS’ Lifelong Friends Society, allows you to designate KHS as a temporary guardian for any of your equine(s) who may outlive you. KHS will provide care until a suitable and loving home can be found.

Beneficiary Designations

Did you know?

  • Having a valid will in place isn’t enough.
  • Assets you pass on outside of your will are called non-probate assets, and typically include IRAs, 401(k)s, pensions, certain bank and brokerage accounts, and life insurance policies.
  • If beneficiaries are not properly set for these non-probate assets, the consequences can be stressful and expensive.

Click here to easily plan beneficiaries for your non-probate assets with the help of FreeWill.

Types of Planned Gifts Benefitting You and Animals:

Appreciated Securities – A gift of stocks, bonds and mutual funds is a great way to support our mission while donors can write off the gift and avoid paying capital gains taxes on the stock gains. Download our Stock Transfer Instruction Form (PDF)

Bequest  – Include KHS in your will or revocable trust – a simple, flexible way to continue helping animals.

Charitable Gift Annuity – make a gift of cash, securities, or real estate, and receive fixed payments for life along with partly tax-free income and a charitable deduction the year the gift was made.

Charitable Lead Trust – Make a significant gift to KHS now with a reduced gift or estate tax, while passing on appreciated assets to your loved ones.

Charitable Remainder Trust – Great tool for selling assets tax-free and receiving income for your or a loved one for life. The remaining assets go to charity.

Life Insurance – Donate a paid policy, deduct future premium payments or name KHS as a beneficiary of your policy. An easy and inexpensive way to make a lasting gift for animals.

Retirement Assets and IRA Gifts – Funds to KHS are tax-free while family members are taxed. Name KHS as a beneficiary of your pension or IRA and 100% of your gift will benefit animals in our care.

Required Minimum Distribution and Qualified Charitable Donations  – Transfer funds from your retirement and satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) all while helping animals.


A Remarkable Journey Helping Animals

Julie and Gary Bowman are on a journey to help animals in Kentucky. From Monroe County to Jefferson County, the Bowmans have recognized a need to fund animal welfare initiatives in our state.

The Bowmans recently founded the Monroe County Animal Welfare program in southern Kentucky, where Gary was raised. During visits to the area, Julie and Gary were concerned with the number of stray dogs in this small farming community. They found Ruby, a six-week-old puppy with two broken legs, during one of these visits and brought her to KHS.

After making a financial contribution toward this new program, the Bowmans looked to KHS for guidance. KHS team members advised leaders in Monroe County how to create a spay/ neuter program and other proactive measures to save lives. This is just one of the ways KHS supports rural animal shelters.

The Bowmans also decided to help animals by including KHS in their estate plans. “One of the reasons we wanted to include KHS in our estate plan is because we recognize the need to save and protect homeless animals. From personal experience (we rescued three litters of puppies from southern Kentucky and brought them to KHS), we are confident that KHS will always put the needs of the animals in their care first,” said Gary.

Read more Wills and Estate Planning stories:

Ann
Bobby & Jeffrey
Shannon
John

The information is not intended as specified legal advice. Consult your attorney when considering any legal matter.

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