3 markets
UK, US and Australia have all updated how courts approach pet custody in the past 12 months. Courts now look at who cared for the animal, not just who paid for it.
Source: Fi v Do (UK, December 2024); Family Law Amendment Act (Australia, June 2025); state legislation (US, ongoing)
$11,300
the average US attorney cost in a divorce. In the UK, contested pet disputes cost upwards of £7,000. In Australia, complex cases exceed AU$50,000. Most of those clients arrive unprepared.
Source: Martindale-Nolo Research; Connaught Law; Shanahan Family Law
30%+
of divorce cases in Australia now involve a contested pet custody decision. In the UK the figure is 27%. In the US, America's top matrimonial lawyers report consistent year-on-year growth. Most clients have no documentation in place.
Source: Nardi Lawyers, 2025; Connaught Law; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers