Opinion ID: 1704367
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the trial court abused its discretion in awarding wife a portion of her attorney fees?

Text: The allowance of attorney fees rests in the sound discretion of the trial court. We will not disturb a trial court's award of attorney fees in a divorce action unless there was an abuse of discretion. Ryken, 461 N.W.2d at 128; Garnos, 376 N.W.2d at 574. A trial court should consider the following elements in determining whether to award attorney fees: (1) The amount and value of the property involved, (2) the intricacy and importance of the litigation, (3) the labor and time involved, (4) the skill required to draw the pleadings and the drawing of the cause, (5) the discovery procedures utilized, (6) whether there existed complicated legal problems, (7) the time required to try the cause, and (8) whether written briefs were required. Peterson v. Peterson, 449 N.W.2d 835, 840 (S.D.1989); Garnos, 376 N.W.2d at 574-75. In making the determination of whether fees should be awarded, the trial court should consider the property owned by each of the parties, their relative incomes, whether the property is in liquid or fixed assets, and whether the actions of a party unreasonably increased the time spent on the case. Garnos, 376 N.W.2d at 575. The trial court applied the above factors in ordering Husband to pay $1,500 of Wife's $6,757.00 in attorney fees. The actions of both parties resulted in considerable time spent by their attorneys on this action  three hearings, a two and one-half day trial. Part of this was necessitated by Husband's delayed decision to contest custody. The trial court found that Husband was responsible for bringing two of the hearings before the final divorce trial. Additionally, Husband has both the larger salary and the rental income from the farm land. The trial court's order for husband to pay $1,500 of Wife's attorney fees was not an abuse of discretion.