Case Name: Marcia KUCZWANSKI, Appellant, v. John S. KUCZWANSKI, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1992-07-08
Citations: 602 So. 2d 623
Docket Number: No. 91-1892
Parties: Marcia KUCZWANSKI, Appellant, v. John S. KUCZWANSKI, Appellee.
Judges: GUNTHER, J., and ALDERMAN, JAMES E., Senior Justice, concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 602
Pages: 623–624

Head Matter:
Marcia KUCZWANSKI, Appellant, v. John S. KUCZWANSKI, Appellee.
No. 91-1892.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
July 8, 1992.
Rehearing Denied Sept. 3, 1992.
Robert L. Bogen of the Law Offices of Robert L. Bogen, Boynton Beach, for appellant.
Lyons & Sanders, Fort Lauderdale, and Larry Klein and Jane Kreusler-Walsh of Klein & Walsh, P.A., West Palm Beach, for appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Marcia Kuczwanski (wife) appeals both the trial court's denial of her supplemental petition to modify the final judgment of dissolution of marriage and her request for reasonable attorney's fees and costs. We affirm the trial court, except for its denial of fees and costs.
The trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that the enhanced finances of John Kuczwanski (husband) were insufficient to require augmented alimony for the wife. The wife failed to show that her needs had not been met when the marital settlement agreement was entered into or that her needs have since increased. See Bedell v. Bedell, 583 So.2d 1005, 1007 (Fla.1991).
We disagree, however, with the trial court's denial of reasonable attorney's fees and costs to the wife. One of the main principles on which fees are permitted in domestic cases is to equalize the otherwise disparate financial abilities of the parties to secure competent legal counsel. Canakaris v. Canakaris, 382 So.2d 1197, 1205 (Fla.1980). In light of the disparity in the parties' annual incomes (approximately $330,000.00 for the husband and approximately $48,000.00 for the wife), the trial court abused its discretion in failing to award the wife her reasonable attorney's fees and costs. § 61.16, Fla.Stat. (1991); Zakarin v. Zakarin, 565 So.2d 790, 793 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990); Johns v. Johns, 423 So.2d 443, 444 (Fla. 4th DCA 1982).
Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's denial of increased alimony, but reverse the trial court's denial of fees and costs. On remand, the trial court shall determine and award the wife her reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART AND REMANDED.
GUNTHER, J., and ALDERMAN, JAMES E., Senior Justice, concur.
ANSTEAD, J., dissenting with opinion.