The Only Choice When Family Matters.

Fort Lauderdale Pet Custody Agreements and Pet Timesharing Arrangements

For many people, the hardest part of a breakup or divorce is not deciding who keeps the furniture or the house.

It is deciding who keeps the pet.

Many people cannot imagine suddenly never seeing a beloved pet again after the end of a relationship. In many situations, both parties love the animal deeply and both want continued involvement in the pet’s life.

As a Fort Lauderdale family law attorney, I assist clients throughout Broward County and South Florida with customized pet parenting plans, pet custody agreements, and pet timesharing arrangements designed to address shared possession, financial responsibilities, veterinary decision-making, and the continued care of beloved pets.

These agreements may involve dogs, cats, or other beloved pets. Because I actively advocate for expanded legal recognition of pets within Florida family law, I have closely studied developing legal trends involving pets and family law and the practical issues families face involving beloved pets after separation or divorce.

What Is a Florida Pet Parenting Plan?

A pet parenting plan is a written agreement addressing how parties will share time, responsibilities, expenses, and decision-making involving a pet after a separation, divorce, or breakup.

Every pet and every family situation is different, and agreements can be customized to address the particular needs of the parties and the pet involved.

What Can a Pet Custody Agreement Include?

• Weekly or alternating timesharing schedules
  • Vacation and holiday schedules
  • Pet daycare exchange arrangements
  • Veterinary care and medical decision-making
  • Emergency treatment authority
  • Food, daycare, boarding, grooming, and insurance expenses
  • Financial responsibility for surgeries, medications, and long-term medical care
  • Travel or relocation restrictions
  • Communication regarding the pet
  • End-of-life decision-making
  • Future dispute resolution procedures

Why Written Pet Agreements Matter

Too often, parties rely upon informal verbal understandings concerning a beloved pet only for conflict to arise later. One party may unexpectedly withhold the animal. Disagreements may arise concerning veterinary care, expenses, travel, relocation, or possession schedules.

A carefully drafted written pet agreement can help reduce uncertainty and conflict by clearly defining each party’s rights and responsibilities concerning the animal.

Most importantly, these agreements can help create consistency and stability for the pet itself.

Important Distinction Under Current Florida Law

Under current Florida law, pets are generally treated as property, and Florida family courts do not currently create pet parenting plans in the same manner as parenting plans involving children.

However, parties may still voluntarily enter into written agreements concerning shared possession, care, financial responsibilities, and decision-making involving their pets.

These agreements may also provide that if Florida law later recognizes pet custody or pet parenting proceedings within family court, future disputes involving the parties’ pet shall thereafter be addressed in family court rather than civil contract court, to the fullest extent permitted under Florida law at that time.

“Pets Are Family”

I am also the creator of the “Pets Are Family” initiative advocating for changes to Florida law so that pets may receive greater recognition and protection within Florida family law proceedings.

Learn more here:

Pets Are Family Initiative

Contact a Fort Lauderdale Pet Custody Agreement Attorney

If you are separating or divorcing and want to protect your ongoing relationship with a beloved pet, contact the Law Office of Rebekah Brown-Wiseman, P.A. to discuss a customized agreement addressing pet timesharing, decision-making, financial responsibilities, and the continued care of your pet.

The Law Office of Rebekah Brown-Wiseman, P.A. assists clients throughout Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, and South Florida with pet parenting agreements and pet custody-related family law issues.

Law Office of Rebekah Brown-Wiseman, P.A.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
954-563-1331
southfloridafamilylawattorney.com

Because pets are family.