When You Divorce, Where Do Your Pets Go?

You and your spouse decided to get a divorce, but it wasn’t as easy as splitting up some assets and moving on. You have children and pets to look after; these are responsibilities that you can’t ignore.

One major question you have is how to determine where your pets go. Both parties want them, but you aren’t sure what to do. Here’s a little information that may help.

Did you know that pets are considered assets in Colorado?

Unlike children, pets are not placed on custody plans, and they aren’t sent to a home based on their best interests (in most cases). Instead, they’re treated as assets to divide among those involved in the case.

Both you and your spouse may want your pets, but a good way to think about the situation is that anywhere your children go, your pets may need to go, too. On the other hand, if you have a child who is not a fan of your pet, you may want to put the pet in the hands of the noncustodial parent or to re-home it completely. Some people who divorce with pets they had before marriage simply take their pets with them, as if they were premarital assets.

Overall, 63% of households in America own pets, so it’s not a surprise that they often come up in a divorce. If you’re having trouble deciding where your pets should go, you may want to have a conversation with your attorney about the options that are available to you for resolving this complex situation.