Divorce is a complicated situation, but there are some factors that can make them worse. For example, what do you do when your beloved pet is involved in your split up?
Recently, California changed the way it handles cases with pets, and you may be surprised to find out that Illinois believes the same things, too. One of the best things you can do early on in your marriage when you purchase a pet or at any time during your marriage is to make a plan for your pet’s care. You can do this with a pet prenuptial agreement or a pet postnuptial agreement.
Pets are an integral part of families today, but many courts across the country see them as property instead of as living creatures. You know it’s impossible to put a value on your pet’s life, even if its actual purchase cost was $500, $1,000 or more.
It’s actually very common for individuals to use their pets as bargaining tools during a divorce, especially if one party is fond of the pet and the other isn’t. The best way to avoid this manipulation is to set up a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement that dictates what will happen to pets in the case of a divorce.
Your attorney can help you draw up the right documents to protect your pet. If you don’t have them and are going to go through a divorce, your attorney can also help you negotiate for your pet’s best interests and develop a plan that guarantees your pet has the best care following the divorce.
