Legal Question in Administrative Law in Washington
Good morning,
My name is Steve and I had a relationship with a girl who I moved in with for 9 months. While living with her I had purchased a dog and now that we have seperated she took him. Her brother in law is a local Sherriff deputy and he tells me that because I purchased the dog while we were living together it is a civil matter and it's outside law enforcements hands. She occasionally keeps it at his house because she thinks I won't ask for my dog there, but I want to know where I stand. Is it partially her dog as well because we lived together or not?
Something that might make this matter more difficult is that we initally remained friends after the breakup so I allowed her to have the dog a few days a week for companionship. When she found out about my new girlfriend she told me she was keeping the dog and told me I wasn't alloud at her house anymore.
What can I do? My brother tells me that it does not seem right that the dog is half hers. If that were true then the house and car she bought while I lived with her would also be half mine. I don't want to be vandictive nor do I think I have the right to go after them, but I do want my dog back.
1 Answer from Attorneys
It is a civil matter. How it would resolve would depend on several facts, was the money used to purchase the dog, your separate money or part of a household fund? How did you divide expenses and care of the dog? Do you have documentation that it was your money that purchased the dog? You can sue for your interest in the dog, but you'd be better off resolving it by negotiation.
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