Who Gets The Dog in Oklahoma Divorce?

The question of who gets the dog in Oklahoma divorce case is pressing if you are a dog lover. Doggone dogs! You can’t live with them, and you can’t live without them. Correction, it’s your spouse you can’t live with, but you do need your dog. As it turns out, your soon-to-be ex-spouse wants the dog, too. What now? Who gets custody of a pet in an Oklahoma divorce? If you want to know the answers to this question, then keep reading about dog custody laws in Oklahoma family law.

Overview of Pet Division in Divorce

Your dog is a member of your family. It’s as precious to you as a child is to a parent. But, legally speaking, your dog is property and is subject to laws for dividing marital property. As is usually the case for personal property, what you come with is what you leave with. In other words, if you purchased your dog before you got married, then a divorce court is likelier to award you custody.

But what if you purchased your pet during the marriage? What if your child adores the dog, but you aren’t the custodial parent? What if you purchased the dog, but your soon-to-be-ex says that you’ve done little to take care of it? There are many factors that a divorce court might consider before it grants to either party. Because these matters are rather complex, you’ll want an experienced Oklahoma pet custody attorney fighting aggressively on your behalf.

What A Court Considers 

A divorce court might consider whose home is best for your dog. For example, if you have a Bullmastiff, a one-bedroom apartment is hardly ideal. Likewise, if you have a terrier, a judge might prefer that you have a home with a spacious backyard for it to dig in. This court might also consider whom the dog was living with if you separated before officially divorcing, and who spent more money on the dog’s vet bills and grooming.

There’s no telling how involved a judge might get, but you can almost guarantee a judge will ask you:

• Whether you purchased your dog or if someone purchased it for you
• Whether the purchase occurred before or after your marriage, and
• Whether your new lifestyle is ideal for your dog

Typically, divorce courts don’t spend too much time on pet custody issues, so their questions are usually straightforward. Sadly, the answers to these questions might not accurately reflect the depth of your emotional bond to your beloved, wonderful canine friend. If the judge doesn’t award you custody of your pet, the court might order your ex to pay you the cash value of your dog instead. That’s hardly the same as having your dog with you, however.

Tulsa Divorce Attorneys – Kania Law-

Who gets your dog in Oklahoma divorce is a big issue to us dog lovers. Your pet is your family. You’re entitled to excellent, compassionate representation when someone threatens to take your beloved pet dog from you. After all, if you can get visitation for your children, why can’t you and your ex agree to visitation for your dog? A divorce court, unfortunately, won’t order mandatory visitation for your dog or any pet. But don’t let this frazzle you. This is where we come in. Our team of knowledgeable pet custody attorneys has handled numerous cases like yours. We want to help you. We want to do what’s best for you, your dog, and your new family arrangement. Call Kania Law Office at (918) 743-2233 or contact us online to learn more.