Q: Handling abandoned animals and code enforcement notice on trust property.
A property owned by a family trust was occupied by a family member who is scheduled to move out in one week. The property is currently a hazardous materials site due to the presence of 20 cats and a dog, with no current plans in place for the animals. Code enforcement has issued a notice requiring cleanup within one month. What steps should be taken to address the potential abandonment of the animals and ensure compliance with the code enforcement notice?
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- California
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
You're facing two urgent issues that need immediate attention: the welfare of the animals and compliance with the code enforcement notice.
First, contact your local animal control and no-kill shelters to arrange for the animals' care before the occupant leaves. Taking photos of the animals and property conditions will document the situation, and you might need to file a report about potential animal abandonment. Many shelters can help with emergency intake when animals might be abandoned.
Next, hire a hazardous waste cleanup company experienced with animal waste remediation to assess and clean the property. Once cleanup begins, communicate proactively with code enforcement by providing written updates and timeline estimates. Remember that as trustee, you have legal responsibilities for the property, so consider consulting with an attorney who handles trust property matters to understand your obligations and potential liability issues.
Justia Ask A Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get free answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask A Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between Justia and you, or between any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions and you, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask A Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
