Who gets Custody of the Pets?
Recently CNN covered a story on what happens to pets when couples break up. Many couples that own pets together, whether they are married or not, are preparing for a “worst-case scenario” of a break up by writing out a parenting plan for their pet.
Although this is a growing trend, Elizabeth Elliott, an animal law attorney in Seattle, says that many pet owners forget to figure out what should happen to their pets if they split up. Adam Karp, an animal rights lawyer in Washington, said that who should end up with the pet is defined by a couple of factors, including who purchased the pet or paid the adoption fee.
Although the courts have not determined a standard for considering the “interest of the dog,” some experts are advocating for courts to consider the possibility in the future.
To learn more about pet custody and divorce, visit some of our pages about this growing divorce issue:
