Access to pets

Can anybody advise me....when i was married we purchased a staffie my ex has only let me see the dog once since we split even though i have asked to see him...where do i go from here can i ask my solicitor to request contact?

Hi Cazza,

I''m not an expert, but I don''t think there is anything legal you can force your ex to do

A solicitors letter may help, but what can they enforce?

If I were you I''d work on your ex''s sentimental side .......... Also - if your ex wants to go away on hols - could you offer to look after the dog - this way - win / win??

WR

A pet is classed as a ''matrimonial chattel'' - an object belonging to the parties. The court can make an order in Ancillary Relief proceedings as part of an overall settlement but cannot make any other type of order - a judge could not order contact to the dog as it is not a child.

If a final ancillary relief order has already been made, it might include a clause that says that all belongings will remain the property of the person who currently holds those items (or something similar) - if this is the case, the order has been made and there is no other option recourse to the court.

Charles

There have been cases where joint custody of pets has been allowed.Most publicised is probably ex Big Brother Contestants Melanie Hill and Alex Sibley.
I think Cheryl Cole and Ashley also had an arrangement to allow Ashley contact with the dogs.
There was a Daily Mail aricle in 2011 saying it was becoming more common for couples to fight over pets.
It did cost Hill and Sibley £25000 in costs.Their pet was a Rescue dog which had cost them £70.