Location: Connecticut
At times of writing, my girlfriend (early 30s) is in the ICU and her odds of survival are unfortunately low.
As her health has been in free fall all year, we discussed expectations should she pass. Her animals (a dog and ferret) are her world, and during the course of our relationship, I’ve gotten incredibly close with the dog in particular. I know the medical records for both animals, and as my girlfriend became more frail, I took over the animal duties. For months now, I have exclusively been the one feeding both animals, cleaning the ferret cage, walking the dog, and administering any medication. I also began paying for all their food as my girlfriend became too weak to work and earn money.
I was the one who found my girlfriend unresponsive and called an ambulance. Since she was taken in, I’ve taken custody of the dog, who now lives at my house and is cared for by me exclusively. I have gone back to my girlfriend’s house every two days to ensure the ferret has adequate food and water, and to clean the cage as needed. I intend to permanently relocate the ferret to my house later today.
Yesterday, I got a calls from my girlfriend’s sister, followed by her mother. Both insist that they want the animals, particularly the dog. My girlfriend has been estranged from her family for over a decade, having left her mother’s house at 16 and severely limiting contact thereafter. She acquired both animals in her adulthood, and neither the dog nor the ferret have any connection to her family. Despite this, her mother is (untruthfully) claiming that she not only paid for the dog’s food, but that she was paying my girlfriend’s rent and is actually the sole signatory to my girlfriend’s apartment lease.
I have every intention of holding onto these animals; I know without a shadow of a doubt that my girlfriend would never forgive me if I surrendered custody to her family. However, given that there is no will and that they are her legal next of kin, I want to understand my legal standing, should they get litigious. Though the purpose of the funds isn’t stated, my cashapp transaction history demonstrates that I provided my girlfriend upwards of $10,000 of financial support. Often times that money went towards pet food, vet visits, etc. I have also been holding onto my pet store receipts since taking custody of the dog, to establish a paper trail of financial responsibility.
Is this enough for Connecticut courts? Is there any way I can proactively establish legal custody or ownership to prevent my girlfriend’s family from coming after me? Any help during this awful time would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Comments
First of all, I am sorry you are going through this. But pets are considered property, so the things you mentioned don’t matter. It doesn’t matter who paid for food, it doesn’t matter who has medical records, etc. Her parents would have the legal claim to all of her property. This is the reason that wills exist, so that our wishes can be legally upheld after we pass. The sister in this case has no claim, just the parents. Can you establish that your girlfriend gifted you the pets prior?
Is the dog microchipped? Is your name on the contact information for the microchip?
Would your girlfriend be able to sign documents at this time?
Pets are property. If your girlfriend owns them, then they’re going to go to her parent(s) as part of intestate succession
> I know the medical records for both animals, and as my girlfriend became more frail, I took over the animal duties. For months now, I have exclusively been the one feeding both animals, cleaning the ferret cage, walking the dog, and administering any medication. I also began paying for all their food as my girlfriend became too weak to work and earn money.
> Though the purpose of the funds isn’t stated, my cashapp transaction history demonstrates that I provided my girlfriend upwards of $10,000 of financial support
This would not really help you establish you owned/co-owned the animals