Fighting over Fido: Pet custody battles on the rise

New York Divorce & Family Law Attorneys  Blog

              Featured on NBC’s Today Show, on September 17, 2008, entertainment correspondent Jill Rappaport reported on the latest issue that’s being thrown before judges trying to sort out who gets what when relationships fail.  That is, who will keep the family pet.  Rappaport suggested, in addition to a pre-nup, couples entering into marriage should consider getting a pre-pup agreement as well.  The family pet has become an important aspect in a divorce proceeding, as many people see their pet as akin to a child, and many courts tend to view the pet as another piece of property to be assigned to one litigant or another.  The segment featured Mark Haskoor, a dog owner and divorcee.  After his wife denied him a visit with his dog, whom the couple purchased together while married, Haskoor took his case to court in an attempt custody rights over his beloved pooch.  Though most states regard a pet as property, the judge presiding over Haskoor’s case worked out a joint custody agreement for Bobesh, treating the pet as if it were a child.  This was not the case for Doreen Houseman, also featured in the segment, whose ex-fiancé was given rights over their pug.  The judge in that case treated the dog as a piece of property, and determined that the dog was purchased by Houseman’s ex-fiancé and therefore he had property rights over the dog, much like a couch or chair. 

            The attorneys at Leeds, Morelli & Brown, P.C. have seen an increase in the number of disputes over pets in divorce proceedings in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island.  If you are facing a divorce proceeding, it is important to hire lawyers that keep up with the ever changing nature of the law.  For any questions, contact an attorney at the Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. law firm for a free consultation at 1-888-556-2529 or visit our divorce website at www.lbdivorcelaw.com.