Pets can often feel like family members. So, when there is a divorce, the family pets may be affected as well, and couples may fight over who the pet lives with after the divorce. This can be quite an emotional subject for many couples, sometimes necessitating a judge’s intervention. If you have concerns about how pet ownership will be handled in your divorce, consider reaching out to a Wheaton, IL property division attorney.
At Davi Law Group, we understand that ownership of a pet in a divorce may be an issue of real consequence to you. Attorney Dion U. Davi can help you make a case to protect your pet, drawing on years of negotiation experience and problem-solving during divorce.
Are Pets Considered Property in an Illinois Divorce?
Under Illinois law, judges can treat a companion animal as a marital or separate asset. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the animal’s needs are not taken into consideration. It does mean that judges have the authority to divide up pet ownership and responsibility in a divorce judgment. A family law court can order “sole or joint” ownership of a pet at its discretion, based on a number of different factors.