An increasing number of married couples in America are choosing not to have children. The reasons for this decision vary from couple to couple, but some couples choose instead to take care of one or more pets. Having children is a much larger commitment than some people are willing to take on, but the desire to take care of a living thing can still be there.
Even outside marriage, many pet-owners take care of their animals with the attention of a loving parent. Having a pet is much less of a commitment, in terms of time and resources, than raising a child, but can provide emotional bonds. Pet owners have been shown to have lower blood pressure and happier lives because of the presence of their pets.
When a pet-owning couple chooses to divorce, the bonds they have established with their pets may already be very strong. This can lead to questions similar to those facing a couple with children. When a couple with children get a divorce, it becomes necessary to determine how the parents are to split custody of the children. In some cases, the children live with one parent but visit the other regularly. It is increasingly common for two spouses to split custody equally between them, with the children moving between the two households.
Likewise, two spouses who are strongly attached to their pets must decide where they go. Sometimes one spouse is more strongly attached to one or more animals than the other. In such situations, the couple may decide that the pet(s) should stay with the spouse who is more attached to them. The pets may also go to the spouse who is most capable of taking care of them. For example, if one spouse has a yard for dogs to roam in, it may be best for the dog(s) to stay there.
Some couples even choose to split custody of their pets, in a situation similar to split child custody. In an arrangement like this, the pets move between the two households on a regular basis, and both of them have a stake in taking care of their pets. Even if the pets stay full-time with only one of them, the other might request to see them, or may be asked to take care of them while the other is out of town.
If you and your spouse are two pet-lovers considering a divorce, it can be difficult to decide what happens to your pets after you part ways. An experienced divorce lawyer can help you with all of the decisions a divorce requires, from separating your finances to planning child custody. By working with the Oceanside divorce lawyers of Fischer & Van Thiel, you can come up with a plan for your divorce that works in the interests of both of you. To discuss your case with a lawyer, contact Fischer & van Thiel today.
Joseph Devine
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