The AVMA
estimates that over 80 million households in the United States own a cat
or dog, and that number will only increase in the next decade. So what
happens to these pets when spouses
separate
or get
divorced? Some jurisdictions are moving in the direction of treating pets more
like children, where courts determine the
better custodian
for the pet and grants visitation rights to the other “pet parent.”
This is not the case in North Carolina. Household pets – no matter
how loyal, cute, loving, or what have you – are considered property, and
subject to division
by the court. Parties can however, attempt to reach an agreement over
pet “custody,” even taking into consideration the financial
obligations for the pet’s care.
The AVMA
estimates that over 80 million households in the United States own a cat
or dog, and that number will only increase in the next decade. So what
happens to these pets when spouses
separate
or get
divorced? Some jurisdictions are moving in the direction of treating pets more
like children, where courts determine the
better custodian
for the pet and grants visitation rights to the other “pet parent.”
This is not the case in North Carolina. Household pets – no matter
how loyal, cute, loving, or what have you – are considered property, and
subject to division
by the court. Parties can however, attempt to reach an agreement over
pet “custody,” even taking into consideration the financial
obligations for the pet’s care.