Opinion ID: 2218399
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Mother's attorney fees.

Text: Mother argues that the court erred in summarily denying her attorney fees because the court failed to set forth the factors it considered. She argues that this requires reversal and remand for redetermination of this issue. Mother relies on Pengra v. Pengra, 429 N.W.2d 754 (S.D. 1988), which states: The record here does not indicate what, if any, factors the trial court considered, leaving this court with nothing to review. We reverse and remand for a redetermination of this issue. Id. at 757. Father argues that Mother failed to introduce evidence to permit the court to evaluate her claim for attorney fees. He claims that the only evidence concerning attorney fees was the net monthly income of the parties, which showed Mother's income was higher than Father's. This is sufficient to distinguish the present case from Pengra. In Pengra, the trial court denied wife's motion for attorney fees, without stating any reasons, despite the fact that the husband's income was substantially higher. Here, Mother's income exceeds Father's and the court found it equitable for each party to pay their own attorney fees. In addition, we note that Mother was unsuccessful in her resistance to the change of custody. The trial court has broad discretion in considering factors for an award of attorney fees and we will not reverse unless there is a clear abuse of that discretion. Pengra, supra; Cole v. Cole, 384 N.W.2d 312 (S.D.1986); Garnos v. Garnos, 376 N.W.2d 571 (S.D.1985); Lien v. Lien, 278 N.W.2d 436 (S.D.1979). We find no abuse of discretion and affirm. In consideration of these factors, we also deny Mother's motion for attorney fees on appeal. Malcolm v. Malcolm, 365 N.W.2d 863 (S.D. 1985).