Image via Wikipedia

No one wants to think about divorce and what might happen if you have to go down that road but what most people may not consider is – what happens to the pets? Whether you have a dog, cat, bird, fish or some other type of pet, if you get a divorce you may have to think about what happens to that pet. Do you share joint custody? Does one person get the pet, leaving the other person without?

Unfortunately for pet owners, pets are still considered property which means that there won’t typically be a shared custody situation except in certain cases where both people agree. What this means to those that own pets is that one person may get the pet and the other may simply get a monetary value assigned. This can be especially true in cases where the couple that is divorcing does not get along or has a volatile relationship. Since an animal cannot be split up like property, one person is sure to be disappointed in the outcome. It can be almost as devastating to some as losing custody of a child and they may find themselves seeking answers.

The best way to protect yourself is to be sure that you have a good understanding with your partner and can work with them accordingly. If that is not possible try to prove that you should get ownership with receipts for purchase, vet bills and care for your pet. If you both love the pet equally it can be beneficial to try to work on a solution without the court having to step in.