In Illinois, nearly 52 percent of households have pets. If a couple divorces, the custody of the pet can be a heated issue. The parties may feel like the pet is a member of the family, but courts view pets as personal property. If you’re concerned about pet custody following divorce, consider the following:
It is in the best interests of the pet to live with the party who can provide the highest level of care. If both parties love and cherish the pet, they may be able to decide this issue without the assistance of the court. For example, if one spouse travels for business and the other spouse works from home, it may be in the pet’s best interest to live with the latter. Ask yourself the following questions:
Shared pet custody is not an issue that a judge will decide. If both parties want custody of a pet and are willing to compromise, they should arrange a shared custody schedule. If there is already a shared child custody arrangement in place, it may be useful for the pet custody to mirror this schedule. This also avoids the painful issue of children being separated from their beloved pets. A pet custody arrangement might also take the following forms:
Oftentimes, a pet custody dispute is not about the pet itself. It may be about spite, manipulation or control. It may even be a tactic to obtain another high-value property item in the divorce. In these circumstances, it’s important to let your divorce attorney know exactly how important it is for you to maintain custody of your pet. With skilled negotiation tactics, a divorce attorney can secure custody of your pet.
If the issue of pet custody cannot be decided between the parties, a judge decides the issue as if the dog or cat is an item of personal property. It’s important to demonstrate to the judge that you have a greater property interest in the pet than the other party. This can be shown in the following ways:
If you’re facing a custody dispute with regard to your pet, you need an experienced and compassionate North Shore divorce lawyer. Call our office today to schedule a consultation.