New Pet Together? Here Is Why a Petnup Makes Sense From Day One

Getting a pet together is one of the nicest things a couple can do. It is also the moment when a petnup makes the most sense — and the moment when almost nobody thinks to write one.

This guide makes the case for doing it now, while everything is good, and explains exactly what to include.

What is a petnup?

A petnup is a written agreement between two people about what would happen to their shared pet if they ever separated. You can create one at Pawsettle's petnup builder in a few minutes.

A petnup is not a legal document in the way a court order is. It is a formal written record of what you both decided, made at a time when you were both thinking clearly and without the pressure of a difficult situation. Courts and mediators can take petnups into account if a dispute ever arises.

Why getting a pet together is different from getting one alone

When you get a pet alone, ownership is straightforward. When you get a pet together, things are more complicated from day one. Who paid the deposit? Whose name is on the microchip? Who attends the vet appointments? Who pays the insurance?

Under English and Welsh law, a pet is personal property. If a relationship ends and both people want the pet, the question of who gets them comes down to who can demonstrate the stronger ownership claim. Without a petnup, that question is answered by paperwork and legal argument rather than by what is actually fair or what is best for the animal.

Our guide to pet custody rights for unmarried couples explains how limited the legal protections are for cohabiting couples who share a pet — and why a written agreement matters so much.

The case for doing it early

The best time to write a petnup is before you bring the pet home, or as close to that moment as possible. When a relationship is new and the pet is new, both people are focused on the shared joy of the animal. There is no defensiveness, no history of grievances. The document that results from that conversation is almost always fairer and cleaner than one produced under any other circumstances.

The couples who are getting petnups before they are even engaged are, arguably, making the most rational choice. We explore this trend in our guide to why more couples are getting petnups before they get engaged.

What a petnup covers

Our step by step guide to writing a petnup covers the full detail, but the core areas are:

• Who is the primary keeper and where will the pet live as their main home
• What visiting or shared care arrangement would apply if you separated
• How ongoing costs including food, insurance and vet care would be split
• How significant health decisions would be made
• What would happen if one person wanted to move to a different city
• How you would update the agreement if circumstances changed

Is it unromantic?

A petnup is no more unromantic than taking out contents insurance or making a will. All three are things you do because you are a responsible adult who thinks ahead, not because you expect disaster.

Most couples who write a petnup together report that the conversation brought them closer rather than creating distance. Talking openly about how you would handle things fairly if life changed is a sign of a mature, secure relationship.

If you are not sure how to raise the subject, our guide to how to talk to your partner about a petnup without it being weird covers the framing that works best.

What if we are not planning to separate?

That is exactly the point. A petnup is most useful when you are not planning to separate, because that is when you can agree on something genuinely fair.

Over a quarter of UK adults say they would consider a petnup. The petnup you write today is most likely a document you will never need to use. But if you do need it, you will be very glad it exists.

Practical steps

Getting a petnup in place when you get a pet together takes about twenty minutes and costs nothing on the free tier of Pawsettle.

• Make sure the microchip is registered in a way that reflects your agreed arrangement — our guide to whether a microchip proves you own a pet explains what registration actually means
• Open a shared record at your vet with both names on the account
• Start a caregiver log from day one
• Review your petnup annually or whenever your circumstances change significantly

The bottom line

Getting a pet as a couple is a wonderful decision. A petnup made early, when everything is good, is one of the most thoughtful things you can do for the animal you are welcoming into your life together.

Pawsettle helps couples create a petnup and Pet Parenting Agreement in a few simple steps. It is not a legal service.