How Pet Custody in Divorce Works
Pet Custody in Florida
At LaFrance Law we love our family dog, Roxy, and know how important pets are to their owners. Pets have started to play a larger role in the everyday lives of people and families. You may be wondering what will happen to your pets if you are getting a divorce. In the past, Florida courts would assist in determining a fair solution regarding the custody of pets but the Bennett v. Bennett case in the mid-1990s changed the way such matters were handled.
This case revolved around the Bennett’s family dog, Roddy, in which each spouse wanted custody. The judge awarded custody to the husband and gave the wife visitation rights for every other month. The Bennetts’ filed motions seeking different modifications to the custody and visitation. When the case reached the Florida appellate court, it was decided that the courts were overwhelmed with custody and visitation cases for children and that they could not also undertake animal custody.