Divorce, Disease, Disaster, Disability, Delay, Death and Your Dogs: Debra Hamilton Esq. – How to Make a MAAP Plan

What happens to your dogs in the event of divorce, disease, disaster, disability, delay, or death?

Don’t Assume

Don’t assume that family or friends know what your want, how to care for them, or who should have them.  Dogs are personal property.  Just because you assume that your breed friends will come to your rescue, reality is that they might not be able or willing to, or be legally able.

MAAP and Debra Hamilton, Esq

MAAP is a 4 step blueprint program from Debra Hamilton, a “legal expert” on animal disputes and an Irish Setter breeder.

4 steps of MAAP

1. Make the plan you want to be followed-short term and long term. No ones knows except you what to do.
2. Do it so your family doesn’t feel guilty or obligated to care for the dogs, or if that is not what you want.
3. Appoint the people to care for your dogs. Co-ownership’s might terminate with your death.
4. Publish it – give to friends, family, attorney and vet. Be sure that the MAAP plan is referred to in your living trust.

But I Already Have a Pet Trust

Pet Trusts are invaluable, but attorneys don’t know everything you want with your dogs and Pet Trusts to not cover living instructions.

Want to Learn More?

Listen to Debra Hamilton discuss how to make a MAAP for your dogs.

Debra spent 30 years as a practicing litigator, but she is now a full-time mediator and conflict coach for people in disputes over animals.

She works both nationwide and internationally. She has far-reaching experience in resolving interpersonal conflicts involving animals, and she is also well-known in the world of purebred dogs as a top breeder and exhibitor of Irish setters and long-haired dachshunds.

Debra speaks widely on the topic of how mediation techniques can help people address conflicts without litigation. She has presented at veterinary schools, the American Kennel Club, the American Veterinary Medical Law Association, the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators, the Living With Animals conference, state bar association Animal Law Committee meetings, and animal interest group meetings.

Debra also writes a blog for Hamilton Law and Mediation and is a contributor to the Solo Practice University blog and the Canine Chronicle. She has been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, US News and World Report, and the New York Times.

As the principal at Hamilton Law and Mediation, PLLC—the nation’s first solo mediation practice dedicated to helping people resolve conflicts over animals—Debra uses alternative dispute resolution to help address disagreements over the family pet during divorce, neighbors’ arguments over a barking dog, and confrontations between clients and veterinarians and other professionals who work with animals. HLM also looks forward to helping animal rights and welfare advocates see the benefit of having a conversation about the best interests of all parties—especially the animals—to resolve animal-related disputes.

Debra is admitted to practice law in all New York State courts. She is certified as a mediator and collaborative professional and has worked with various court-based mediation programs in New York City (Queens-Community Mediation Service) and in Westchester and Rockland Counties in New York (Westchester and Rockland Mediation Centers).