{"id":351787,"date":"2026-02-19T14:26:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T19:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/divorce\/who-gets-the-dog-in-divorce.html"},"modified":"2026-02-19T14:26:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T19:26:00","slug":"who-gets-the-dog-in-divorce","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/divorce\/who-gets-the-dog-in-divorce.html","title":{"rendered":"Who Gets the Dog in Divorce?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

Who Gets the Dog in Divorce?<\/h1>\n\n
\n
\n By Jade Chounlamountry, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Jordan Walker, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Many states treat a dog as personal property in divorce court. However, pet custody laws are becoming an increasingly important point of contention during divorces.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Many couples (and their children) might wonder: Who gets ownership of the family pet after a divorce? How does a court determine who gets custody of the dog in divorce cases?<\/p>\n

In this article, we’ll address the following issues about pet ownership in a divorce:<\/p>\n