New Illinois Custody Law Has Prioritized Pets Over Children

When couples get married, they vow to ‘have and to hold” in both good and bad times. Years pass, the couple has children, they get a dog or a cat.

Sometimes, tragically, the couple that once thought they would grow old together no longer can stand to be in the same room. Divorce is all too common. Property can be divided. The house and goods inside can be sold and the profits shared. While splitting property can be hard, the couple also has to decide (or get a court to decide) who will have primary custody of the children. What about the pets? Who will be responsible for them?

Normally, any animals in the marital home are considered property. But beginning this year in Illinois, they will not. A new law that began on January 1, 2018, states that a judge in a divorce hearing can decide about the animal’s welfare and can award either sole or joint custody. The animals will now be treated just like children. While on the surface, this sounds like a great idea, there are some concerns.

This issue has brought forth the idea of fathers being equal parents. Why should a pet’s rights come before due process for dads? Equal rights and due process are a part of the constitution and should be given to every person. Pets being recognized as ‘children’ in Illinois seems to be trampling on that idea. We all probably know a dad who didn’t get custody of his children in the divorce but should have. For more information, click here.

Feature Image Source: Pixabay