Opinion ID: 1208274
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: the wife's appeal-related counsel-fee quest

Text: The wife claims in this court the sum of $2,571.57 in appeal-related attorney's fee and costs because she is not in a position to bear the burden of the legal fees incurred. In statutorily authorized litigation, counsel fees on appeal, much like taxable costs, may be allowed in the case in which the services were performed. [27] The terms of 43 O.S.Supp. 1992 § 110 [28] provide that either spouse may be required to pay reasonable expenses of the other as may be just and proper under the circumstances. Counsel-fee allowances claimed in matrimonial disputes under § 110 never depend on one's status as prevailing party in the case, but may be granted only to that litigant who qualifies for the added benefit by the mandated process of judicial balancing of the equities. [29] Moreover, counsel fee may be the appellee's due when the appeal is found to be without merit. [30] This appeal is neither frivolous nor lacking merit. Based on our review of the record, there are no compelling or overriding equitable considerations in favor of either litigant. We hence hold that each party shall bear its own counsel-fee and other litigation expenses incurred in the appeal or certiorari process of this post-decree proceeding for nunc pro tunc modification.