Opinion ID: 1107765
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Attorney Fees and Child Support

Text: The mother contends that the trial court erred in refusing to order the father to pay the mother's attorney fees and the other costs she incurred in defending against his motion for a change of custody. An attorney fee is ordinarily available in a modification proceeding because it is merely an extension of the original divorce action, and such a fee may be awarded without a finding of contempt. Conrey, 801 So.2d at 847. In awarding an attorney fee, it is appropriate to consider the earning capacity of the parties and the financial circumstances of the parties, 801 So.2d at 847, as well as the fact that the mother here has no skills that would assist her in acquiring an estate large or small. Burgess v. Burgess, 54 Ala.App. 396, 400, 309 So.2d 107, 110 (Civ. 1974). The court should also consider the fact that the litigation in this case was both protracted and contentious, Brasfield v. Brasfield, 679 So.2d 1091, 1095 (Ala.Civ.App.1996), and that the mother was compelled to file numerous contempt motions and other motions concerning the case, Deas v. Deas, 747 So.2d 332, 337-38 (Ala.Civ.App.1999). The trial court's award of attorney fees to the father and the reduction of child support to be paid by the father to the mother were based upon the father's having prevailed on the custody issue. However, the father is no longer the prevailing party. We therefore reverse the judgment of the trial court on the child-support and attorney-fee issues and remand the cause for further proceedings on those issues consistent with this opinion.