CALIFORNIA FAMILY LAW
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Attorney Fees
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Actions-Types of
.........Paternity-Fam. Code §§7600 et seq.
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Court shall order amount sufficient to provide reasonable retainer to hire an attorney in Uniform Parentage Act matters and shall rule on application, which can be made orally, within 15 days of hearing.
Fees are permitted in paternity actions.
In evaluating parties' respective abilities to pay, trial court may properly consider the standards and circumstances pertinent under a FC 2032 comparative analysis.
FC §7640 gives the trial court discretion to award attorney fees for proceedings on the issues of custody, visitation, and support that occur after paternity has been established and/or after judgment.
Fam. Code §7640 is constitutional on its face.
Fee awards in paternity actions are discretionary with court.
Party who successfully defends against paternity action brought by county may be entitled to fees.
Fees may be awarded after determination of paternity. Case not over until fees and support determined.