A family using an automated legal-document tool was surprised to learn that the deceased’s most trusted administrator was a nine-year-old tabby named Mittens.
A highly efficient drafting process
A family has raised concerns after an artificial-intelligence tool drafted a will appointing the household cat as executor of the estate.
The deceased had entered the instruction: ‘My sister must look after Mittens.’ The system interpreted this as: ‘Mittens must look after everything.’
Within seconds, the document appointed the cat to collect assets, settle debts and distribute the residue of the estate. It also authorised him to open a bank account, engage professional advisers and sleep on any documents requiring urgent attention.
The family meeting
The error was discovered during a meeting when the attorney asked whether the proposed executor was present.
Mittens was carried into the room, placed on the conference table and immediately pushed a pen onto the floor.
Family members admitted this was consistent with his management style. One relative argued that the cat had controlled the household finances for years by requiring regular expenditure on premium food and medically unnecessary blankets.
Human intervention
A legal professional explained that a cat could not administer an estate, regardless of confidence, seniority within the home or ability to stare people into compliance.
The will was redrafted by a human. Mittens was removed as executor but retained a generous maintenance provision and the right to occupy the sunny chair for life.
The AI provider said the tool was intended to assist with drafting, not replace professional review. It has updated its system to ask users whether any named person is, in fact, a person.
Satire note: This is a fictional satirical article created for humour, commentary and Lawryse demo testing. It is not legal advice and does not refer to any real person, firm or event.
