If your tortoise may outlive you: a practical plan for a pet that could see another generation
Name a willing caretaker, and a backup, in your will; leave money for care, or set up a pet trust in the US; write a care sheet; and keep the tortoise's paperwork with it. With a leopard tortoise often living 50 years or more, this is part of ordinary tortoise keeping, not a morbid extra.
By the Reptile Cremation Services editorial team · Updated September 24, 2026 · 4 min read · Sources
- Wills, pet trusts and letters of wishes
- What to write in a care sheet
- Choosing someone who will actually cope
Why this matters
How likely is it that your tortoise will outlive you?
More likely than with almost any other pet. The Merck Veterinary Manual's lifespan table puts eastern box turtles at 25 to 50 years in captivity and leopard tortoises at 50 or more.[1] Mediterranean tortoises such as Hermann's and spur-thighed commonly pass 50 in good care, and plenty of families have a tortoise that belonged to a grandparent.
At the far end of the scale, the oldest tortoise on record, Jonathan on St Helena, is believed, according to Guinness World Records, to have hatched around 1832,[2] which by our estimate makes him about 194 years[3] old in 2026. The previous record holder, a radiated tortoise in Tonga called Tu'i Malila, lived at least 188 years[4]. Your tortoise won't live that long, but it may well see you retire, and possibly more.
Free tool
Pet age & senior years calculator
Convert your pet's age and see when senior-care and planning conversations usually start.
The pet age calculator above shows roughly how far through its life your tortoise is. If the answer is 'barely started', that's your cue to plan.
The most important step
How do you choose the right caretaker?
Choose a person, not just a name. The ideal caretaker is younger than you, has outdoor space or can make some, isn't put off by hibernation, and has actually agreed. A surprise tortoise in a will is a kind thought that can go badly wrong.
- Ask directly, and give them a real chance to say no.
- Name a backup, in case your first choice moves abroad, falls ill or changes their mind.
- Introduce them to your tortoise and walk them through its routine, including winter.
- Consider a specialist rescue as a last resort, and contact it in advance to ask how it handles bequests.
If you keep a long-lived tortoise, is there a plan for them if they outlive you?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Making it official
Should you put your tortoise in your will?
Yes. Legally, pets are property in most countries, so without instructions your tortoise passes with the rest of your belongings to whoever inherits, who may not want it or know how to care for it. A will lets you name who receives your tortoise and leave them money for its care.
| Option | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Gift in a will | Leaves the tortoise, and optionally a sum of money, to a named person | Most keepers, simple and cheap |
| Pet trust (US) | A trustee holds money for the tortoise's care and pays it to the caretaker; all US states now allow them | Keepers leaving larger sums or wanting oversight |
| Letter of wishes | An informal note with your will describing care; not binding, but guides everyone | Everyone, alongside a will |
| Rescue or sanctuary arrangement | An agreement with a tortoise charity to take and rehome your pet | Keepers without a suitable person |
A solicitor or estate lawyer can set these up properly; laws differ by state and country. Mention the tortoise's likely lifespan so the money you leave is realistic for decades, not just a few years.
Passing on what you know
What should go in your tortoise's care sheet?
Everything you'd want a stranger to know. Keep it with your will and a copy near the enclosure, and update it every year or so.
- Species, sex, approximate hatch year and weight history.
- Diet: the weeds, flowers and greens it eats, and what to avoid.
- Housing: indoor and outdoor setup, lighting and heat, and escape risks.
- Hibernation: whether it hibernates, how, for how long, and the weight checks you use.
- Health: your reptile vet's name and number, past illnesses and treatments.
- Paperwork: microchip number and any certificate needed for a protected species.
- Aftercare wishes: cremation or burial, and whether you'd want the shell kept.
Protected species
What paperwork needs to go with your tortoise?
In the UK and EU, the Mediterranean tortoises most people keep are protected under wildlife trade rules, and selling or commercially transferring one generally needs an Article 10 certificate tied to that animal's microchip. Keep the certificate with your will so it passes with the tortoise. There are about 700,000[5] pet tortoises and turtles in the UK, and lost paperwork is a common headache for the families who inherit them.
In the US, turtles and tortoises make up 43%[6] of reptile-keeping households. Some native species, including box turtles in several states, need permits to keep or transfer. Check your state's rules and note them on the care sheet so your caretaker isn't caught out.
The end of a long life
How do you plan the tortoise's own aftercare?
Your caretaker will face the same choices you would: cremation or burial, and whether to keep the shell. Write your wishes down, because a caretaker may feel unable to make those decisions for someone else's pet. Our cremation vs burial guide and keeping a tortoise shell set out the options.
A large tortoise costs more to cremate than a small reptile, often priced like a dog, so leave enough to cover it. The memorial budget planner helps you estimate the amount. Our guide to pre-planning reptile aftercare has a one-page plan your caretaker can follow, and our services page shows what we can help arrange.
A tortoise may carry your family's story forward for decades. A little planning makes sure it's in good hands for all of them.
If you've recently inherited a tortoise and it's the loss of its first keeper you're grieving, our page on grief after losing a reptile may help. And if you'd like aftercare options to include in your plan, send us your tortoise's details.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
If you keep a long-lived tortoise, is there a plan for them if they outlive you?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
If your tortoise or turtle died, what would you want done with the shell?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Would you pre-pay for aftercare while your pet is still healthy?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Questions people ask
Can I leave money to my tortoise in my will?
Not directly, because an animal can't own property. You can leave your tortoise and a sum of money to a named person, or in the US set up a pet trust, where a trustee holds money and pays for the tortoise's care. A lawyer can advise on the right structure where you live.
What if nobody in my family wants my tortoise?
Contact a tortoise rescue or specialist charity now, while you can plan calmly. Some accept pets by prior arrangement and rehome them with experienced keepers. Florida even runs a year-round, free exotic pet amnesty for certain species.[7] Leaving a donation toward care is appreciated.
How much money should I leave for my tortoise's care?
Enough for food, lighting, heating, vet care and eventual aftercare over the years it's likely to live. For a young tortoise that could be decades. Many keepers estimate a yearly cost and multiply by the likely remaining lifespan, then add a cushion for vet bills.
Do I need to tell my caretaker about hibernation?
Yes, in detail. Hibernation is where inexperienced keepers most often go wrong, and a mistake can be fatal. Write down whether your tortoise hibernates, where, at what temperature, for how long, and the weight checks you use. Show your caretaker in person if you can.
Is it fair to give a young person a tortoise that may live 50 years?
It can be, if they're genuinely keen and understand the commitment. Talk it through honestly, including hibernation, holidays and moving house. Always name a backup caretaker in case circumstances change, and make sure your written care sheet travels with the tortoise.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] Average captive lifespans: ball python 15-20 years, boa constrictor 15-25, corn snake 10-15, bearded dragon 5-10, green iguana 5-15, leopard gecko 20+, eastern box turtle 25-50, leopard tortoise 50+. Merck Veterinary Manual - Table: Average Life Span of Reptiles in Captivity.
- [2] Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise on St Helena, is estimated to have hatched around 1832 and became the oldest tortoise ever recorded at 190 in 2022. Guinness World Records - 190-year-old Jonathan becomes world's oldest tortoise ever (Jan 2022), 2022.
- [3] If Jonathan the tortoise hatched in 1832, he is about 194 years old in 2026. Our estimate: 2026 - 1832. How we calculate.
- [4] The previous record tortoise, Tu'i Malila, a radiated tortoise in Tonga, lived to at least 188 years before dying in 1965. Guinness World Records - 190-year-old Jonathan becomes world's oldest tortoise ever (Jan 2022), 1965.
- [5] There are about 700,000 pet tortoises and turtles in the UK (1.6% of households). UK Pet Food (formerly PFMA) Pet Population 2026, 2026.
- [6] Among US reptile-owning households, 43% keep turtles or tortoises and 22% keep snakes. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 National Pet Owners Survey release, 2025.
- [7] Florida's Exotic Pet Amnesty Program lets owners rehome prohibited or conditional exotic species for free year-round; red-eared sliders are the most rehomed animal. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Exotic Pet Amnesty Program.
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