Overview

• The capital’s Congress passed the reform unanimously on August 18 in an extraordinary session, making CDMX the first entity in Mexico to establish explicit pet-custody provisions in divorce cases.
• Divorcing parties must be able to include pets in their agreements with terms for care, visits, maintenance and veterinary attention.
• Courts may assign joint or exclusive custody guided by the animal’s best interests, weighing the capacity to provide a safe environment, time availability and financial resources.
• The Civil Code now recognizes companion animals as sentient beings rather than movable property, requiring dignified treatment and moral consideration.
• The package adds a new fraction VII to Article 267 and Article 855 Bis and modifies Articles 873 and 874, with the changes taking effect after their publication in the Gaceta Oficial.