For many of us, pets are considered important members of the family. While divorce laws are clear when it comes to what happens with children in a divorce, what about custody involving our four-legged friends?

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While pets may mean a great deal to us, they are considered personal property under Florida law. This means they are subject to the equitable distribution laws regarding divorce. Its value does indeed refer to its financial value, even though pets are much more than that and provide an infinite deal of emotional value.

Perhaps because they are living things that are also deemed property, the guidelines regarding pets can be tricky and may vary among judges and courtrooms. There have been cases where a couple received joint custody of the pet, which both spouses disagreed with. The former couple ended up spending thousands of dollars in legal fees before the wife was ultimately awarded custody.

If you have questions about how to proceed with a divorce, please contact us.

This update is provided by the firm Rafool, LLC. We have a strong reputation throughout Florida and we have numerous years of experience representing clients involved in complex divorce cases as well as other family law matters. Should you have any domestic or family issue, we are here to assist you by providing educated advice and skilled, professional advocacy. Call 305-567-9400 to speak with one of our Miami family law lawyers.

This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.