Pets in Divorce Actions
All of us love our animals and consider our cats and dogs to be a part of our family just like our children. The Court system, however, looks at pets as personal property to be distributed between the parties in the divorce. What this means is that the dogs and cats are awarded to one party or the other just like the items of furniture in the house. One person will get to keep the animal or animals. There is no visitation or animals nor any doggie or kitty support. While I have had clients who have agreed, in their settlements, to let each other visit with the pets, absent an Agreement, the Court cannot order it.