WASHINGTON — Couples can argue about many things during a divorce, and in recent years, who gets custody of the pets seems to be a hot point of contention.
In 2014, 27 percent of divorce lawyers who were surveyed said they’ve seen an uptick in the number of custody battles over Fluffy or Fido, the Boston Globe reports. Some of those disputes can cost thousands of dollars.
To help stop this trend, many are now suggesting a “pup nup” — a prenuptial agreement that specifically spells out who gets to keep the four-legged friend if the couple decides to call it quits.
Without something in writing, pets are usually considered property. That usually means that whoever actually bought the animal and paid for most of the expenses will get to keep it. But judges often do not take into account who has bonded with the pet, or who has taken the dog on the most walks, if they have to intervene to resolve a custody battle over an animal.
