Divorce and Pets

In many modern homes, pets become more than just a companion or another piece of property to their owners – they become part of the family. Amid all the stress that accompanies a divorce, some of the most heated battles are regarding which spouse will assume custody of the family dog or cat. Although you may value a pet as a family member, in the resolution of these matters, the court will regard him or her as a piece of property subject to the standard consideration of the division of assets.

Divorce can be a difficult and stressful time but you don’t have to go through it alone. If you are considering divorce and are concerned about retaining custody of your pets, contact the Conroe divorce attorneys of Garg & Associates, P.C., at 281-362-2865 today to discuss your legal rights and options.

Who Gets Custody?

You should be open with your lawyer about how important your pet is to you so he or she can make sure to fight hard for custody. Couples should be sure that they take into account as a primary factor the well-being of the pet and make decision with the pet’s best interests in mind. Some other questions to consider are:

• Who originally purchased the pet?

• Who typically provides the most care for the pet?

• Who has custody of the children? Keeping a pet with children can serve to create a more stable environment for them during this time of change.

Obtaining character references from family and friends who can vouch for how well you can take care of the pet might be valuable in some cases, particularly if it can be established that the pet is better off with you for financial or other reasons.

Contact Us

To ensure that your rights and wishes regarding pet ownership are properly represented during your divorce proceedings, contact the Conroe divorce attorneys of Garg & Associates, P.C., at 281-362-2865.