Overview

• Lawmakers voted 57-0 in an extraordinary session to adopt the Movimiento Ciudadano initiative.
• The Civil Code now recognizes animals as sentient beings, aligning with the city constitution and Supreme Court jurisprudence on animal welfare.
• Divorce and separation agreements may set custody, visitation, maintenance and veterinary care for companion animals, including shared-care plans.
• If there is no agreement, judges may assign custody to the better-suited caregiver or order shared care based on the animal’s best interest.
• The reform takes effect the day after publication in the Gaceta Oficial, with proponents saying CDMX is the first in Mexico to codify pet custody in divorces.