Best Family Law Attorneys in Anchorage, AK

CUSTODY OF PETS IN ALASKA Alaska has recently passed laws about pets that put it in the forefront of the legal landscape in America. In the past, pets in Alaska family law cases were considered to simply be personal property, and the courts generally did not want to address or enforce custody or visitation involving a divorcing couple’s pets. Alaska has amended its divorce statutes and divorce judges can take into consideration the well-being of animals and assign joint custody over pets, not including fish. Additionally, courts in Alaska now have the power to issue orders in Domestic Violence cases, allowing a victim of Domestic Violence to remove an animal from the abuser, prohibit the abuser from removing, harming or disposing of any animal, and gaining exclusive care and custody of an animal owned by the victim of Domestic Violence. For many people, the relationship between a pet and its owner is similar to that of a parent and child. This statute may assist families in dealing with loss by allowing the courts to fashion equitable remedies to continue contact with their beloved pets. This article is for informational purposes only and should not relied upon for legal or tax advice.