Following your divorce, you may end up with a pet ownership situation you aren’t happy with. Your unhappiness could stem from the fact that your pet is staying with your former spouse. It may also be caused by the knowledge that you cannot comfortably provide for your pet now that you have lost your former spouse’s income.
Thankfully, there are ways to resolve and even prevent those pet-related issues. Continue with this article to learn more about those potential solutions.
What You Need to Know about Pet Nups
Pre-nuptial arrangements dictate how the assets of the married parties will be divided should the partnership ultimately end in a divorce. A pre-nuptial arrangement makes the process of getting a divorce simpler for the parties involved. Could a pet nup do the same?
For those who may be unaware, a pet nup is a type of pre-nuptial agreement developed by the animal charity Blue Cross and the law firm Lloyd Platt & Company. The pet nup outlines how pet ownership will be handled following the end of a relationship. It also details the living arrangements for the cat or dog involved. Even the party who pays for the puppy or kitten’s care can be outlined in the pet nup.
Right now, pet nups are more easily accessible to UK residents. It’s unclear if you can get them in the United States and how the courts view them.
Still, it’s worth keeping an eye out for those pet nups just in case they become more widely adopted.
Creating a Custody Arrangement with Your Spouse
Only the courts in Alaska, California, Illinois, and New York State will help set up shared custody arrangements for pet owners seeking a divorce. If you don’t live in one of those states, you cannot force your former partner into a shared arrangement. Even a pet nup is unlikely to help.
The best solution in that scenario involves creating an out-of-court pet ownership arrangement with your former spouse.
While putting that arrangement together, both you and your ex-spouse should include specific schedules and responsibilities. Who pays for pet food and vet bills? Those are things the two of you should discuss. When you have come to an agreement, you should include the finalized details in the document.
Remember to involve your lawyer in every step of forming that arrangement. Double-check everything with them to ensure that you are not missing any important details.
Until such time that sharing pet custody is allowed in your state, creating a post-divorce arrangement concerning your pet may be the best thing you can do.
Pet custody matters don’t have to be messy even in the wake of a divorce. As noted in this article, there are ways to manage pet custody properly. Keep them in mind while you’re considering potential solutions for your pet ownership problem.
We at TAILored Pet Services can also help as we can watch over your dog while you visit your attorney during a divorce. Schedule your visit today by either contacting us through website or calling/texting 425-923-7791.
Recent Comments