Family Attorney

Riccardo Rainieri and Jasmine divorcing after 10 years of marriage, but they agree on at least one thing: you must keep in mind, 12-year-old the best interests of Jade.

“Jade should not suffer because his mother, and I can things do not work,” says Riccardo, lives in New York City’s East Side.

He worked and Jasmine an agreement on custody and visitation rights for their Golden Retriever.

Legally, the animals are private property. So in the case of divorce, a judge to rule on custody is not taken into account as to the decision that the grill or the Barcalounger.

Circuit Court Judge Amy Williams, shall preside over the events of family, in Pinellas County, said, it has increased five issues of custody since 2002. She noted, for the care of dogs, cats, horses, a pig - and even an aquarium.

“When it comes to pets, there is no legal equivalent custody child, it is best if the couple to work these issues in court,” she says. “Otherwise, those that, ultimately, five to a fortune. ”

Not all cases are friendly

In Rainieris an agreement in May was easier to Jade diagnosed with cancer. The couple has put aside their differences to give their pet love and she needed assistance during treatment.

But many couples have a difficult time of it. In the Midwest, a woman in the middle of the calls divorce, the family has vagué cats. Your suspect soon ex-husband to hire a detective to their tails, and investigators from the video contained the woman at home with cats. The man was still being tried in court and for joint custody.

A divorcing duo Arizona had urged the judge to write their orders during recent joint custody of the children, cats and hamsters.

Even the famous battle about pets. Actress Kirsten Dunst and ex-lovers Jake Gyllenhaal, when she fought for in the past year about their German shepherd, Lovey.

This is why more and more couples are fighting like cats and dogs in the family pet? Look at the results of a national survey five owner in the year 2004 by the American Animal Hospital Association:

• 93% of respondents said they would risk their lives for their pets.

• 83 percent of dog owners describes himself as a mom or dad.

• Nearly half of five images taken in their portfolios.

Some courts weigh the interests of animals

This is good news for animals caught in disintegration.

“The courts are beginning to look a rigorous analysis of the property in the best interest of the animal to decide which party is entitled to custody,” Joyce cabinetry, the founder and director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, wrote in an article at the insistence of lawyers for more road custody Five cases.

Although custody is not decided in which only the five best interest, Williams said, the Court finds that in the case of the distribution of material goods and values. She remembers handing over the Golden Retriever of the family, a woman, because the husband had bought it as an incentive for them to remain on an empty stomach to combat alcoholism and drug addiction.

The man said the dog was his property because he bought it. However, the woman had cared for the dog almost exclusively. And she had not had an alcoholic drink in seven years.

When you are in a fight for the custody of an animal, remember that animals are concerned, as many children under the stress of disintegration. Check signs of fear, uncertainty and confusion. Remember that the best of their interests in front of you.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (aldf.org) advises divorcing breeder, we get a lawyer for help in the development of an approach that seeks the best interest of five.

Gathering information on the validation or proof of ownership of primary care or person. Ask your lawyer on alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation or conciliation.