Can you get your attorney fees paid by the other side?
Consider the following:
Attorney fee award based on need and ability to pay
In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, nullity of marriage, or legal separation of the parties, and in any proceeding subsequent to entry of a related judgment, the court shall ensure that each party has access to legal representation, including access early in the proceedings, to preserve each party’s rights by ordering, if necessary based on the income and needs assessments, one party, except a governmental entity, to pay to the other party, or to the other party’s attorney, whatever amount is reasonably necessary for attorney’s fees and for the cost of maintaining or defending the proceeding during the pendency of the proceeding.
Attorney fee award based on behavior that makes the divorce unnecessarily more expensive
Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the
court may base an award of attorney’s fees and costs on the extent to
which the conduct of each party or attorney furthers or frustrates
the policy of the law to promote settlement of litigation and, where
possible, to reduce the cost of litigation by encouraging cooperation
between the parties and attorneys. An award of attorney’s fees and
costs pursuant to this section is in the nature of a sanction. In
making an award pursuant to this section, the court shall take into
consideration all evidence concerning the parties’ incomes, assets,
and liabilities. The court shall not impose a sanction pursuant to
this section that imposes an unreasonable financial burden on the
party against whom the sanction is imposed. In order to obtain an
award under this section, the party requesting an award of attorney’s
fees and costs is not required to demonstrate any financial need for
the award.
