CALIFORNIA FAMILY LAW
...Attorney Fees
......Amount
.........Factors Considered
............Comparative Wealth
7 Cards On This Topic:

Parties' comparative wealth may be considered in making fee award.

Attorney's fee order properly made based on the significant disparity in the parties' cash assets and its effect on the parties' respective abilities to fund the litigation.

Given procedural record, and important public policy considerations, trial ct. abused its discretion by refusing to consider W's fee request on its merits.

Where both H and W had adequate resources to litigate, trial ct. did not abuse discretion in denying W's request for attorney fees, despite H having high earned income and W none.

Fees properly awarded to H worth $2 million where W worth $40 million.

Attorney fees properly ordered despite party's ability to pay own fees, based upon disparity in parties' relative circumstances.

Order that each party pay own fees despite H's net worth of $15 million affirmed due to W's unreasonable litigation of case.