Divorce and Your Pets

Where the dog winds up in the divorce may seem like a silly thing to worry about, but to many Americans, the beloved family pet are a key member of the family. And, like children, there is a considerable amount of love and affection where the pet is concerned. But, unlike children, pets are property, and the reality is that they will likely be treated as such by the courts.

It is actually pretty common for couples undergoing a divorce to treat the ownership of the pet as though it were a child, going so far as trying to assert that they will be better able to provide for the pet’s happiness and stability. Usually, the court ignores these kinds of pleas, but it does go to show you just how attached people are to their pets.

“Custody” of Rufus

At the end of the day, it’s a bit impractical to have dual custody of a dog or cat, so you’ll have to be able to establish that somebody will be the definitive owner. Here are some questions to keep in mind that will help you establish who should get your pet:

• Who purchased the pet? The spouse who came into the relationship with the pet will have more of a claim to it.
• Who took care of the pet? If your husband was the one who always cleaned the litter box, took Fluffy to her vet appointments, and gave Fluffy her medicine, then he may have a better claim to the animal.
• Who has custody of the kids? As painful as it would be to lose both the kids and the dog, letting the kids keep Champ can be the responsible, adult thing to do.

Contact Us

If you and your spouse are considering filing for divorce, contact the West Palm Beach divorce lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. by calling 561-353-2800.