While you may love your furry friend as though they were your child, the court does not view pets as people. If you and your co-pet parent decide to split up, a Missouri court will not hand down any sort of legally binding pet custody arrangement or require either of you to pay pet support. Legally speaking, pets are your property and will be allocated in the same manner as your bank accounts, automobiles, kitchen appliances, etc.
Regardless of whether or not you and your spouse have a pet, it is in your best interest to agree on as much as possible when it comes to property division. Everything you can’t, don’t, or won’t agree upon together will be decided for you by the court, which results in a legally-binding property division agreement that is, in most cases, undesirable for one or both parties. If you and your spouse don’t agree on who should keep the family pet, there are still other ways to move forward without going to court. Alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation, arbitration, and collaborative divorce, can help you and your spouse resolve your pet custody issue with fairness, objectivity, and finality.
Divorce Lawyers with a Track Record of Success in St. Louis
If you and your spouse have decided to divorce, you may worry about losing you furry loved one in the process. While the law does not currently elevate pets to a status any higher than that of a dinner plate or a bath mat, our experienced team of St. Louis divorce attorneys may still be able to help you get the outcome you hope for. At the Kallen Law Firm, we are prepared to help you simplify property division and divorce as much as possible and, hopefully, help you hang on to your pet for years to come.
Call (314) 441-7793 or contact usonline to receive a complimentary case evaluation today.
