Pets will no longer be considered property in family law disputes (AU.)

[canetoad]

When a relationship ends, you're sometimes faced with dividing possessions from the house down to the toaster. And traditionally, if you had to go to court to work it out, your pets would be included on that list of property, too.

Eve Smith, a collaborative international family lawyer and pet custody expert, says in the eyes of the law, animals have long been "considered the same as a dining table and chairs, or car, or boat". "It really came down to whose name the dog or cat was in: who bought the animal?"

That will no longer be the case across Australia from June 10, when the Family Law Amendment Act 2024 comes into effect. It provides a new framework for determining ownership of the family pet in property settlements.

"Now it's not only whose name the animal is in, but other factors are taken into account such as who walks the dog, feeds it, takes it to the vet, pays for medical expenses," says Ms Smith.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-05/pets-no-longer-to-be-considered-property-in-family-law-disputes/105352874

[I_UndergroundPanther]

1. That is wonderful.

Pets are really like furry children .
They are living beings that have emotions connections and a soul. About time they were treated like it.

[SunSeeker]

2. Yes! They are fur babies. Their best interest should be considered when deciding who gets them.

And visitation rights.

[C Moon]

3. That's a great way forward.

Hope we can do this in the US soon.

[mopinko]

6. at least in illinois, we do.

my ex tried to claim the dog that was supposed to b his. but the time he’d been here a month, he knew who the momma was. we got another dog from the same breeder 6 mos later, so he wd b more his dog.
he did end up w the dog, after i gave him to our youngest, cuz i despised her live-in bf. i knew he wd protect her no matter how much he liked the asshole. then she couldnt keep him, and gave him to her dad. he had a good life, tho. he didnt get along w my little terrier who thought she was the big dog in the house.

he never pressed the issue in the divorce, but the law here does account for who actually takes care of the dog. he knew he wd lose.

[markodochartaigh]

4. I'm glad that my cats are generally too lazy to bother

reading things on the internet. It might disturb them to contemplate that there are places that I wouldn't be considered their property.

[canetoad]

5. You have a point there

Seems you're owned.