Archives for February, 2010

Feb 8, 2010

10 Questions To Ask a Divorce Lawyer

By Aaron Dishon, Esq.

1. Do you specialize in divorces, or are divorces just a part of your practice? Are you a certified family law specialist?
2. What is your strategy for my case? How long will it take to resolve my case?
3. How long to you take to return phone calls? How do I get a hold of you if there is an emergency? What do you consider to be an emergency?

Feb 8, 2010

Court Needs to Consider Both Ability to Pay and Actual Expenses When Ordering Attorneys Fees

The court should consider both child support and spousal support payments when determining attorneys fees.

Alan T.S. v. Superior Court (Mary T.)

In this case the trial court had ordered $9,000 in attorney’s fees to wife during a dissolution case, citing disparity in wife’s gross income as a court clerk of $5,135/mo and that of husband who grossed $8,333/mo. as law librarian. When husband appealed the fee order he pointed out that not only was his income not substantially greater so as to support such a large attorney fee award, but that he has significant costs and expenses including child support and spousal support, after which he was not left with enough income to pay attorneys fees.