If the wife files for divorce, is the husband required to pay the wife’s lawyer?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

If the wife files for divorce, is the husband required to pay the wife’s lawyer?

In this case, the wife left the husband for another lover. When she filed for divorce, the judge ordered him to pay for the wife’s lawyer. Why? The husband went in front of the judge without a lawyer since he couldn’t afford one.

Asked on January 8, 2012 under Family Law, Colorado

Answers:

M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

Geesh.  This sounds like it happened upon the initial filing for the divorce (rather than on a motion later on for say contempt of court), correct?  Generally speaking, attorney fees are usually awarded in situations where there is a stay-at-home parent or a significant difference in income. The idea is to give both spouses the opportunity to prepare and present their case to the court. To level the playing field, so to speak.  But it sounds here like the field was not level at all as YOU had no attorney.  So I would go and speak with legal aid or find a bar association that does pro bono work in matrimonial actions.  Something is not right and you need to get it straightened out.  Good luck.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption