Pet Custody Laws by State

Alabama has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Alaska has a companion-animal provision: Alaska Stat. § 25.24.160(a)(5) directs the divorce court to weigh the animal's well-being, so a pet is not divided as ordinary property alone.

Arizona has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under community property rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Arkansas has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

California has a companion-animal provision: Cal. Fam. Code § 2605 directs the divorce court to weigh the animal's well-being, so a pet is not divided as ordinary property alone.

Colorado has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Connecticut has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Delaware has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

District of Columbia has a companion-animal provision: D.C. Code § 16-910 directs the divorce court to weigh the animal's well-being, so a pet is not divided as ordinary property alone.

Florida has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Georgia has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Hawaii has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Idaho has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under community property rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Illinois has a specific companion-animal divorce statute: a court may allocate sole or joint ownership of and responsibility for a companion animal that is marital property, and it must consider the animal's well-being.

Indiana has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Iowa has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Kansas has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Kentucky has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Louisiana has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under community property rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Maine has a companion-animal provision: 19-A M.R.S. § 953(9) directs the divorce court to weigh the animal's well-being, so a pet is not divided as ordinary property alone.

Maryland has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Massachusetts has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Michigan has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Minnesota has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Mississippi has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Missouri has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Montana has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Nebraska has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Nevada has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under community property rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

New Hampshire has a companion-animal provision: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 458:16-a directs the divorce court to weigh the animal's well-being, so a pet is not divided as ordinary property alone.

New Jersey has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

New Mexico has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under community property rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

New York has a companion-animal provision: N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B)(5)(d)(15) directs the divorce court to weigh the animal's well-being, so a pet is not divided as ordinary property alone.

North Carolina has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

North Dakota has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Ohio has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Oklahoma has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Oregon has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Pennsylvania has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Rhode Island has a companion-animal provision: R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-16.5 directs the divorce court to weigh the animal's well-being, so a pet is not divided as ordinary property alone.

South Carolina has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

South Dakota has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

No Illinois-style companion-animal divorce statute was identified in Tennessee after review of the current code; pets are generally treated as personal property, divided under marital-property rules in divorce and recovered through personal-property actions outside divorce.

Texas has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under community property rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Utah has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Vermont has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Virginia has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Washington has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under community property rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

West Virginia has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Wisconsin has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under community property rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.

Wyoming has no companion-animal custody statute, so a pet is treated as personal property and awarded to one owner under equitable distribution rules — courts do not order visitation, and the person who can prove ownership and primary care usually keeps the animal.