Opinion ID: 2221928
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Did the District Court Abuse its Discretion by Failing to Award Sue Attorney Fees?

Text: An allowance of attorney fees depends on the financial condition of the parties and their relative ability to pay. See Locke v. Locke, 263 N.W.2d 694, 696 (Iowa 1978). The trial court has considerable discretion in this matter. See id. Here, the trial court ordered the parties to pay their own attorney fees. In view of the fact that Sue used monies from the mutual fund, a marital asset, to pay her attorney fees, we find no abuse of discretion in the court's decision. We also note that Sue's inheritance and the fact that she was awarded more of the parties' property than was David make her well equipped to pay her own attorney fees. For the same reasons, we reject her request for appellate attorney fees. In view of David's assets and earnings, we also deny his request for attorney fees on appeal.