When a marriage ends, the love for pets continues. If a dispute over a pet erupts in a divorce in Minnesota, the animal will be treated legally as property and not a child although many people regard their pets as children. According to one divorce lawyer, a person asserting ownership of a pet in a divorce could have to prove it with documentation in court. Evidence would include records of who took the animal to the vet and paid for it and who originally purchased the animal.
Because both ex-spouses might have strong emotional attachments to pets, legal experts support the idea of establishing who a pet belongs to with a prenuptial agreement. Just like property and other assets, the agreement would spell out pet ownership in the event of a divorce.
The purpose of a prenuptial agreement is often to create a road map for the division of property if the marriage ends. Without a prenuptial agreement, disputes between divorcing partners could lead to lengthy litigation. Someone considering marriage who has concerns about certain assets could consult a lawyer about making a prenuptial agreement. A lawyer could evaluate the client’s goals and recommend how to express them in a legal agreement. Negotiating the terms with the potential spouse would also be necessary.
The other person might then wish to seek legal advice before signing a document. When someone is presented with a prenuptial agreement, a lawyer could explain the rights to assets that could activate upon marriage. This information could allow someone to consider financial issues like spousal support and business ownership during the preparation of an agreement.