Divorce and Pets: Custody, Care, and What’s Best for Your Animals
When you’re going through a divorce, your pets aren’t just property to be divided up. They’re beloved family members who deserve continued love and care from both of you, even when your marriage ends.
Remember, your pets didn’t choose this divorce, but they still deserve stability and love from both pet parents. Collaborative divorce allows you to prioritize their well-being while respecting the bond you both share with them.
Traditional court battles over pets often end with one person retaining everything, while the other loses their beloved companion entirely. The judge sees your dog or cat as property, like a couch or a car, and awards them to whoever has the stronger legal claim.
Collaborative divorce offers a much better path forward for pet-loving couples. Instead of fighting in court, you work together with trained professionals to create solutions that are tailored to your specific pet custody situation.
The beauty of this approach is that you know your pets better than any judge ever could. You understand their routines, their favorite spots, and what makes them happy or stressed.
With collaborative divorce, you can design creative custody arrangements that keep both of you in your pet’s life. You could share custody every week, or one person could keep the dog while the other receives regular visits and helps with the vet bills and food expenses.
Your collaborative team can help you work through practical details, such as who covers medical expenses, what happens during vacations, and how to handle pet emergencies. These conversations might feel awkward at first, but they prevent much bigger conflicts down the road.
Working together instead of against each other creates better outcomes for everyone, especially your four-legged family members.
When you utilize the Los Angeles Consensual Dispute Resolution Family Law Association, you can rest easier because you will know that when your divorce is finalized, each party involved, including your children, will be better prepared to face the future with confidence.
Call us today if you would like to learn more about how our LACFLA members can help you and your family through your divorce!
Note: This information is general in nature and should not be construed as legal/financial/tax/or mental health advice. You should work with your attorney, financial, mental health or tax professional to determine what will work best for your situation.