Your spouse has always made considerably more income than you have made. Now that your Florida Divorce or Dissolution of Marriage has been filed, your spouse has hired an attorney and you are unable to afford one. Florida statues state that the court may order a party to pay a reasonable amount for attorney’s fees to the other party. The intent of the statute is to allow both parties equal access to legal representation. The court must consider both the need of the party to be awarded and the ability of the party to pay.
Attorneys fees may be awarded through a Motion for Temporary Attorney’s Fees and Costs at the beginning of a case when one party has little to no income and therefore an inability to afford any representation. As well, attorney’s fees may be awarded at the end of a divorce in the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage if one party had a significantly greater ability to pay.
Your Orlando Divorce Attorney can advise you of your rights regarding any type of temporary support during your Family Law Matter. If you are in need of an experienced Divorce Lawyer, please call Family Law of Orlando to schedule an initial consultation with Attorney Wade P. Luther. You may contact us by email or by calling (407) 835-9900.