Opinion ID: 1114174
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: whether the lower court erred in awarding attorney's fees to appellee.

Text: In the instant case, the chancellor awarded Claudine $1,500.00 in attorney's fees for an ancillary suit involving the marital home and assessed James with the cost of this divorce proceeding. In his opinion the chancellor stated: Consistent with the ruling of the Court in Martin v. Martin, 566 So.2d 704 (Miss. 1990), each party is equally capable of paying their attorney's fees, and, therefore, no attorney's fees are awarded in this cause, but both parties are receiving properties from which the fees can be paid or they may be paid from their earnings, except as follows. The Court does assess an attorney's fee of $1,500 and the costs in this proceeding against the defendant [James] in view of the fact that it was necessary for the plaintiff [Claudine] to bring an additional action to require that defendant [James] be prohibited from transferring the marital domicile and to set a previous conveyance aside. Therefore, a reasonable attorney's fee of $1,500 and the entire cost of this proceeding is assessed to the defendant [James] as the plaintiff [Claudine] is the prevailing party. On appeal, James contends that it was error to award attorney's fees to Claudine in light of the fact that she was financially able to pay her fees. However, Claudine asserts that this is not an ordinary divorce matter because she was forced to go to court to have the husband's conveyance of the property to his sister and niece set aside. As a result, it was necessary to take his sister's deposition. The court reporter charged $114.15 for this deposition. Also, Claudine's attorney spent about three hours at the hearing. Claudine was charged $125.00 per hour by her attorney. Claudine then testified that the total amount owing to her attorney on the day of this trial was $6,182.15. [6] As to the parties' ability to pay, there does not seem to be a great disparity in their financial situations. It is clear, and admitted by both parties, that Claudine makes more money each month than does James. Generally the award of attorney's fees in a divorce case is left to the discretion of the trial court. Hemsley v. Hemsley, 639 So.2d 909, 915 (Miss. 1994) (quoting Cheatham v. Cheatham, 537 So.2d 435, 440 (Miss. 1988)). We are `reluctant to disturb a chancellor's discretionary determination whether or not to award attorney fees and of the amount of [any] award.' Ferguson v. Ferguson, 639 So.2d at 937 (Miss. 1994) (quoting Geiger v. Geiger, 530 So.2d 185, 187 (Miss. 1988)). In addition Ferguson states: The question of attorney fees in a divorce action is a matter largely entrusted to the sound discretion of the trial court. Smith v. Smith, 614 So.2d 394, 398 (Miss. 1993); Kergosien v. Kergosien, 471 So.2d 1206, 1207 (Miss. 1985). If a party is financially able to pay her attorney, an award of attorney's fees is not appropriate. Martin v. Martin, 566 So.2d 704, 707 (Miss. 1990). See also Jones v. Starr, 586 So.2d 788, 792 (Miss. 1991) (Generally, it is true that, unless the party can establish inability to pay, attorney's fees should not be awarded by the court.). The criteria to be utilized in determining attorney fees are found in McKee v. McKee, 418 So.2d 764, 767 (Miss. 1982). Ferguson, at 937. Though the general rule in Mississippi is that if a party is financially able to pay his attorney's fees he should do so, this is a matter which is entrusted to the chancellor's sound discretion. Furthermore, there is a great body of caselaw allowing trial courts to award attorneys' fees, in divorce actions, where fraudulent conveyance is involved. In re Marriage of Pahlke, 154 Ill. App.3d 256, 107 Ill.Dec. 407, 412-413, 507 N.E.2d 71, 76-77 (holding trial court correctly ordered husband to pay spouse's attorney fees where fees were substantially incurred in voiding fraudulent conveyance); appeal denied, In re Pahlke, 116 Ill.2d 556, 113 Ill.Dec. 304, 515 N.E.2d 113 (1987); Watson v. Watson, 73 Md. App. 483, 534 A.2d 1365, 1374 (1988) (holding under rules of court that imposition of attorneys' fees as sanction for fraudulent conveyance was proper); see also Gabaig v. Gabaig, 717 P.2d 835, 840 (Alaska 1986); Tessitore v. Tessitore, 31 Conn. App. 40, 623 A.2d 496, 498-99 (1993). In the instant case, the chancellor obviously concluded that James' conduct in trying to convey the house to his sister and niece warranted the imposition of these fees. By his decision the chancellor did not reward Claudine, but reimbursed her the extra legal costs incurred as a result of James' actions. Though Claudine did not establish her inability to pay her attorney's fees, this Court holds that the chancellor was not manifestly wrong and that his decision to award these fees does not constitute error.