Opinion ID: 1279751
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Did the Trial Court Abuse Its Discretion in Awarding Wife Two-thirds of Her Costs and Attorney's Fees?

Text: During the trial, Wife was awarded interim fees of $15,000, which Husband never paid. See supra note 2. In the final decree, the court awarded Wife two-thirds of her costs and attorney's fees. Wife's total fees and costs were $25,815.82, the award is therefore $17,210.54. The $15,000 interim award had been reduced to judgment, therefore judgment was entered on the final award in the amount of $2,210.54. Husband challenged the propriety of the interim award. He argued that the interim and final attorney's fees awards left Wife with a windfall. This issue is moot because the final judgment was reduced by the interim award. Wife did not receive a double recovery. In any event, we find the award is not unjust or unreasonable. The court considered the parties' relative worth and Husband's conduct during litigation. The trial court did not abuse its discretion. See Rostel v. Rostel, 622 P.2d 429, 432 (Alaska 1981). [22] The decisions of the trial court are AFFIRMED as modified.