With so many DINK households these days (that’s Duel Income, No Kids), you knew this was bound to happen. Next week, a Maryland General Assembly Senate committee is scheduled to take up a bill that refines divorce law as it relates to pets.
Meaning Fido and Princess will get to see Dad every other weekend and some holidays. Medical bills can be taken out of the alimony.
Or — and is this really better? -— Mom and Dad are both declared owners and pets will just have to split their time evenly between both parents.
Essentially, the law gives the court the power to issue a custody agreement for pets. While it may seem a little silly on the surface, to couples who don’t have kids, pets are the next-best thing. And — especially if it’s a bitter divorce — they’ll fight tooth and nail over them.
Here’s what the proposed law would allow the court to do:
- Give one party sole ownership of the pet,
- Give one party sole ownership of the pet with visitation rights granted to the other party on a schedule that the court determines, OR
- Give both parties ownership of the pet and order custody of the pet to be shared by both parties on a schedule that the court determines.
The court cannot order either party to pay any pet expenses to the other party.
The hearing is set for March 14 at 1 p.m. before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.
