Opinion ID: 1495433
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Counsel and Witness Fees

Text: The Court declined to award counsel fees to the Wife, apparently because she had received a substantial property award. The Court also refused to tax expert witness fees against Husband, presumably for the same reason. In Husband S v. Wife S, Del.Supr., 294 A.2d 89 (1972), this Court ruled that the purpose of 13 Del.C. § 1526 (formerly § 1530) is to place the parties on substantially the same financial basis, and stated in the opinion: . . . [W]e hold that, in the exercise of its discretion, the right to suit money under § 1530 is to be viewed by the Trial Court as of the inception of the case; that later developments during the case, such as the finding of perjury, or the ultimate result of the case, such as an unsuccessful defense, may be relevant to the amount of suit money to be awarded, but not to the right thereto under the Statute. Here, a token award of $200 was made at or near the beginning of the action but after final hearing the Court simply entered an order denying an application for both expert witness fees and attorney fees. It is clear under this Court's ruling in Husband S supra that the Wife's right to suit money must be viewed by the Trial Court as of the inception of the case. Given the award made, it appears that Wife established her right to such money, compare Husband S, supra at 294 A.2d 92, and thus the only question was the amount thereof. While the value of property assigned may be relevant to the amount of suit money to be awarded, Husband S supra, it does not follow from the division made herein that the Wife is necessarily or automatically without right to such moneys in any amount. Indeed, since her right thereto had been established, the Trial Court had a duty to go on from there to consider the amount question. We make no judgment about what amount, if any, is appropriate but the parties are entitled to have the record show what factors the Court considered in the exercise of its discretion in fixing such amount or in denying any award. Reversed and remanded.