Opinion ID: 1860448
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: did the trial court err in ordering the appellant to pay the sum of $2,500.00 to the appellee for attorney fees?

Text: The award of attorney fees in divorce cases is left to the discretion of the chancellor, assuming he follows the appropriate standards. Adams v. Adams, 591 So.2d 431, 435 (Miss. 1991), citing Cheatham v. Cheatham, 537 So.2d 435, 440 (Miss. 1988). The fee should be fair and should only compensate for services actually rendered after it has been determined that the legal work charged for was reasonably required and necessary. Adams, 591 So.2d at 435, quoting McKee v. McKee, 418 So.2d 764, 767 (Miss. 1982). Unless the chancellor is manifestly wrong, his decision regarding attorney fees will not be disturbed on appeal. Trunzler v. Trunzler, 431 So.2d 1115, 1116 (Miss. 1983). Generally, unless the party requesting attorney fees can establish the inability to pay, such fees should not be awarded. Jones v. Starr, 586 So.2d 788, 792 (Miss. 1991); Martin v. Martin, 566 So.2d 704, 707 (Miss. 1990). There are exceptional circumstances, not evident here, which warrant an award of attorney fees although neither party is unable to pay. O'Neill v. O'Neill, 501 So.2d 1117, 1119 (Miss. 1987) (litigation calculated to harass). And in Adams, this Court allowed an award of a portion of the wife's attorney fees where she was before the court because of her husband's appeal, she was largely successful in defending the original decree, she had investments of $110,000.00 and an income of $14,000.00 and testified that she would eventually be able to pay her own fees. In this case Danne is before the Court because of Michael's appeal and has succeeded in defending a portion of the original decree. Other than her $2,900.00 IRA and her $1,600.00 savings, Danne has no investments to invade in order to pay her attorney. Rather, there was evidence presented that Danne does not have the ability to pay her attorney fees in full. Based on her income and expenses, even partial payments on a monthly basis would be an impossible burden. Danne's attorney estimated that his final fee would be $3,900.00, of which $550.00 has been paid. The chancellor ordered Michael to pay $2,500.00 of Danne's attorney fees. It does not appear that the Chancellor was manifestly wrong and his decision on this issue is hereby affirmed. The chancellor's order that Michael's business owes Danne $20,000.00 and the equitable lien in that amount against Michael's interest in the homestead to secure such payment is affirmed. The chancellor's determination that Michael pay the monthly note on the consolidated debt and a portion of Danne's attorney fees is affirmed. We reverse and remand for a new hearing for determination of an appropriate amount of child support and for a proper determination of Michael's visitation rights. AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED AND REMANDED TO THE CHANCERY COURT OF JACKSON COUNTY FOR PROPER DETERMINATION OF CHILD SUPPORT AND VISITATION. ROY NOBLE LEE, C.J., HAWKINS and DAN M. LEE, P.JJ., and PRATHER, PITTMAN, BANKS, McRAE and ROBERTS, JJ., concur.