Who Gets the Dog in a Nebraska Divorce? A Guide to Pet Custody

In Nebraska, your dog isn't legally a family member—at least not when a divorce decree is being drafted. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 54-601, dogs are personal property, and Nebraska courts handle pet disputes through ownership and possession law rather than the "best interests" standard used for children. That doesn't mean you're stuck with whatever a judge decides. This Nebraska-specific guide explains how the law actually treats pet disputes in divorce, what evidence tends to matter, where premarital and settlement agreements fit, and why a postnuptial "petnup" is far riskier in Nebraska than most online advice suggests.