Who keeps the pet after a breakup?

Historically, furry friends were given little consideration with respect to formalising a settlement following the separation of a couple. They were generally classified as property and if they were included in a settlement at all, they were considered to be a “chattel”. In practice, however, it was not very common that much consideration was given to pets when formalising an overall settlement.

However, by way of the Family Law Amendment Bill 2024, the government has recently proposed further amendments to the Family Law Act to place a greater emphasis on addressing pets when finalising a settlement.

The specific amendments proposed apply particular consideration to pets in determining who will continue to own the pet as a part of a property settlement, which will allow the Court to make Orders providing for the ownership of the pet to one party following separation. The government has suggested that the proposed amendments will work towards ensuring the safety of all family members following separation, including pets, in circumstances where regrettably pets are often used and abused in cycles of family violence.

To enable the Court to make such an Order with respect to the ownership of a pet, it will have to consider some specific factors, including:

1. any history of family violence during a relationship and who the perpetrator of said violence was;

2. the extent to which each person has cared for the pet historically;

3. any history of cruelty to the pet by either person; and

4. the relationships of either person, or a child of the relationship, with the pet.

These proposed amendments hope to solidify the significance that pets have in many Australian families and recognise them as a unique type of property in a way that they have not been recognised historically.

If you have a family law matter, please reach out to us at 02 9523 5535 or at info@southernwaters.com.au. At Southern Waters Legal we have an experienced team of family law solicitors who can assist you.