Pets on Divorce

Date: 24 Jul 2025

Karen Jones

Understanding that family law and pets on divorce must adapt to reflect modern societal values, Estella Newbold-Brown have contributed significantly to national reform conversations.

One of her most influential initiatives of recent years has been co-founding a working group on the legal treatment of pets during separation, alongside barrister Sarah Lucy Cooper, Pets on Divorce .

Their work has addressed a longstanding gap in family law: the absence of clear, humane, guidance on the division of valued animals. The working group’s aim is to change the way that pets are treated by the courts, on separation.  In England and Wales, Pets are currently treated as a chattel (property), and so are considered by the court in the same way you might argue over ownership of a fridge or television.  Pets on Divorce are working on changing this law.

• Amphlett Lissimore and The Kennel Club hosted an event last night highlighting the need for change in the law regarding our pets. | LinkedIn
• Pets on Divorce – Amphlett Lissimore

Since its formation in January 2025, the volunteer-led working group has:

• Gained media attention across BBC Radio 2 (Jeremy Vine), BBC Radio 4, The Sunday Times, and The Daily Mail, raising public awareness of this vital issue
• Compiled comparative international legal research to help drive reform here in England and Wales
• Met with stakeholders at the House of Lords, with discussions raised in debate by Baroness Berridge
• Collaborated with key organisations including the RSPCA, Kennel Club, and a range of family law professionals
• Designed a sector-wide survey to be distributed across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
• Drafted guidance on pet welfare in divorce and separation cases

Pets on Divorce Media

• ‘Pets on Divorce’ visit the House of Lords – Amphlett Lissimore
• New campaign calls for legal reform to recognise pets as family, not property – Today’s Family Lawyer
• Pet-Nuptial Agreements: Addressing the Legal Status of Pets in Divorce – CityWealth
• I’m a lawyer – every pet-owning couple should have a ‘pet nup’ – MSN / iPaper
• TMC • Pets on Divorce. New working group set up by Sarah Lucy Cooper and Estella Newbold-Brown.
• Sharing dog with my ex was a rollercoaster of raging rows and heartache – getting a pet-nup would have made life easier | The Sun
• White Paper: Navigating Pet Custody in Divorce and Separation – by Imogen Robins, 3PB Barristers and Estella Newbold-Brown

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