WHO GETS THE PETS IN NASSAU & SUFFOLK COUNTY DIVORCE?
New York courts traditionally used a property-driven approach in determining which spouse gets the family pet. Couples would not agree to divorce settlements and would battle out bitter divorces because of disputes regarding pets. Often, the decision of who obtained the pet in divorce was based solely on which spouse could produce a receipt showing that he or she purchased the pet. Courts would often ignore such factors as which spouse walked, fed, groomed and cared for the pet the majority of the time. However, a recent shift in the law and legal perspective is changing this approach.
New York Pet Custody Criteria
New York has specific criteria when determining which party in a divorce will receive the pet. New York courts have held that pet custody is not the same as child custody and the same standards do not apply. However, the law also delineates the pet from being considered only personal property that represents a part of the marital estate subject to evaluation and division during divorce.
New guidance was passed on January 1, 2018. The law requires the New York court to use a best for all concerned standard when determining custody decisions regarding dogs and cats. While title alone does not determine custody, the court will consider how the pet was obtained. Additionally, the court also considers how the pet was cared for during the relationship and who provided this care. The court considers the spouses’ actual arrangement regarding how they each spend time with a pet after the parties separate.
If there are children involved and the court is considering pet time-sharing, the court considers the relationship between the pet and children. If one parent gets primary custody or one parent’s home represents the location where the children will be most often, the court usually awards this parent custody of the pet.
Increase in Pet Custody Disputes
A nationwide survey of divorce lawyers conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers found that 27 percent of survey respondents had seen an increase in pet custody cases within the last five years. 88 percent of the disputes involved dogs while cats represented 5 percent of these disputes. Pet custody disputes are more common in cases in which the parties did not have children since the pet may substitute this role in many ways. One New York County case found that a dog should be treated as a member of the family and not as personal property. It held that the dog custody decision should be based on the best for all concerned standard. In addition to considering which party would best care for the dog, the emotional impact on the dog owner should also be considered.
Contact THE POLLACK LAW FIRM, P.C. for assistance with your pet custody dispute!
This area of the law is recent and will likely require well-researched and contemplated arguments to convince a judge of which spouse would be best to receive the family dog or cat in a New York divorce. A family law lawyer can research applicable cases as well as cases that may not carry precedential weight in New York but that may nonetheless persuade a judge as to the rationale of a particular decision.
The Pollack Law Firm, P.C., serving clients in Nassau and Suffolk County for more than 22 years, is always available to assist and represent parties in divorce, separation and all other matrimonial and family law matters. Please call today to schedule a free consultation: (516) 938-3330.
