There are many personal and potentially emotional issues for spouses to address when they divorce. Property division and parenting plans often dominate early negotiations.
If spouses share a family pet, for example, arrangements for their companion animal can quickly become a point of contention. People who love their animals may want to negotiate a shared custody arrangement for their pet.
What rules apply in pet custody scenarios in Mississippi?
The courts don’t address shared pet custody
Mississippi does not treat pets like people. Regardless of how attached people are to their companion animals, a judge cannot establish a shared custody order as they might for children.
Instead, they treat the pet like property. They assign a fair market value to the pet and then factor that amount into the other property division matters they address.
Couples can potentially reach their own arrangement for sharing pet custody, but enforcing that arrangement in family court likely isn’t possible. Additionally, the strain that such arrangements create for a pet can be a serious concern. Dogs may travel well, but cats and other pets may find constant moves confusing, prompting problematic behavior.
The need to share pet custody, especially if spouses do not have minor children, can create opportunities for conflict and stress in a situation that could otherwise offer a clean break. People preparing for divorce and concerned about their pets may need to consider the situation carefully to realistically assess whether they can meet the needs of the pet on their own.
Learning more about Mississippi’s unique divorce statutes can help people set achievable goals and effectively address their biggest disputes. Pet custody is often only an option for those who can actually cooperate with one another after they divorce.