Case Name: Robert Andreas CHRISTOU, Appellant, v. Nicolette Marie BALDREE, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2016-03-04
Citations: 186 So. 3d 631
Docket Number: No. 5D15-2005
Parties: Robert Andreas CHRISTOU, Appellant, v. Nicolette Marie BALDREE, Appellee.
Judges: ORFINGER, EVANDER and WALLIS, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Third Series
Volume: 186
Pages: 631–631

Head Matter:
Robert Andreas CHRISTOU, Appellant, v. Nicolette Marie BALDREE, Appellee.
No. 5D15-2005.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
March 4, 2016.
Dale F. Webner, of Miller & Webner, P.A., Weston, for Appellant.
Patricia M. Lee, of Urban Thier & Fed-erer, P.A, Orlando, for Appellee.-

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The trial court erred in awarding attorney's fees against Robert Christou, the Respondent in the paternity action below. A court in a domestic relations proceeding that is without personal jurisdiction over the respondent may not order the respondent to pay attorney's fees. See Beroes v. Fla. Dep't of Revenue, 958 So.2d 489, 492 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007); Steffens v. Steffens, 593 So.2d 1156, 1158 (Fla. 2d DCA 1992); Montano v. Montano, 520 So.2d 52, 53 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988).
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
ORFINGER, EVANDER and WALLIS, JJ., concur.
. The fees were awarded pursuant to section 742.045, Florida Statutes (2014), which authorizes a court to award attorney's fees in a paternity action after consideration of the party's'"financial resources."