W ord S earch Aster
THEY’RE MORE THAN PROPERTY
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Labor Leaves Moonstone
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Virgo Windy
HONEY-PECAN CHICKEN BREASTS
Pet Custody in Divorce
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
INGREDIENTS
Do you think of your pet as a member of the family? If so, you’re not alone! A recent Harris poll revealed that 95% of pet owners nationwide have similar feelings. While we know our pets aren’t the same as our children, they mean a lot more to us than a piece of furniture. This can create confusion during divorce proceedings. Past legal realities did indeed treat pets like furniture. At times judges would even order the sale of the pet so the spouses could split the proceeds. Thankfully, these situations no longer occur in the state of California. In 2018, California passed a law that allowed judges to consider the best interests of the pet when awarding custody over said pet. Judges can also create shared pet- parenting arrangements similar to child custody arrangements, such as joint or sole ownership with visitation time. They can even issue temporary pet custody orders while the divorce is pending. There are no guarantees your family law judge would choose to handle the issue this way. The language specifically says the judge “may” enter an order, not that the judge must. They are free to treat pets as property, just as before. Some judges believe knowing what is best for an animal is impossible. There is reason for hope, though. Less than 10% of divorce cases go to trial here in California; most settle out of court. This means 90% of the time, you and your ex can look at the pet’s needs, determining for yourselves what will work for both you and your family. This can be incredibly difficult since the final disposition of the pet is likely to be a highly emotional subject for both parties. Before going into the negotiations, search your heart to determine whether you think the pet would really be in worse straits while living with the other party. If you both acknowledge that you want your pet to be happy, it will be easier to come up with equitable, creative solutions.
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2 6-oz boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder 1/8 tsp black pepper 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp butter 3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp finely chopped pecans
DIRECTIONS
1. Pound chicken with a meat mallet to 1/2-inch thickness. Sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. 2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat butter over medium heat; brown chicken on both sides. Cook covered until chicken is no longer pink, about 6–8 minutes, turning once. 3. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with pecans. Cook covered until chicken is glazed, about 2–3 minutes.
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