Pet Custody and Replevin Cases

The matter of dog or animal custody during a separation can become a significantly heated dispute. The matter of ownership and who gets "custody" may be complicated, and even more so if there is a child involved or there was an adoption of an animal between unmarried individuals.

As an intern turned paralegal with the Center for Animal Litigation in Connecticut (2021-2023), Adam Teper, Esq. helped his principal attorney with replevin actions on a regular basis, assisting in helping clients establish their ownership, caretaking abilities and other factors in order to reunite the proper owner with their dogs. Adam Teper, Esq. is now an attorney himself and seeks to do the same, whether litigation is needed or not. Contact today for a free consultation if you have a custody matter at stake involving your companion animal.

Everybody's circumstances and situation is definitively unique, and Attorney Teper focuses on the actual adoption or sale, names on records, vet bills, food costs and caretaking routines, who spends the most time with the pet, who has bonded with the pet, whether there is an ESA or ASA need, etc... Things like "who has taken care of the dog most? How long is one party gone during the day compared to the other? Who buys the food and pays the vet bills? Massachusetts Courts handle these types of cases often, where they must identify what the legal issues within a particular case are, and what laws should be applied. There are a wide variety of factors that can be discussed in determining the best path for you to follow with your

case! Call today!

Also.... Are you in the midst of a divorce? Are you preparing to marry? Are you in a long-term committed relationship? Do you jointly own an animal with another individual? Protect your rights to custody and visitation with your companion animals. Attorney Teper is also available and able to draft a prenuptial agreement, postnuptial agreement, a separation agreement, or to review a divorce decree. Make sure YOUR animal is protected and you can your rights and the rights of your beloved pet today!

REPLEVIN ACTIONS

Limits:

You must know who has the animal and the current whereabouts of the animal.
You cannot just take your animal back. Taking could result in a trespass charge, so seeking formal custody and return of property would be better for you.

Benefits:

Faster and efficient, seeking preliminary injunctions and seeking mediation if possible, otherwise pursuing the matter with a trial for a final adjudication.

Common Situations:

Unmarried Couples
Roommates
Family Member disputes
Rescues/Adoption Centers
Actual Theft

Things that are important to consider:

Who Paid for Veterinary Care?
Who paid for the majority of the food, toys, etc.?
Who spends the majority of the time caring for the animal?
Who has stable housing and ability to ensure the animal's overall health and safety?
Are children involved in this dispute? have they bonded with the animal?
When the pet was adopted or purchased, who paid? who's name is on the paperwork?
Do you have an ESA or ASA need for the animal? Is the animal specifically trained to aid you?
What is your work to home ratio like?
...and other important factors.

NOTE: THE NAME ON THE VET BILL IS NOT DEFINITIVE PROOF OF OWNERSHIP. You may have arguments and defenses in Court, even if you are not the name listed on the vet bills.

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Pet Custody and Replevin Cases

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