Opinion ID: 1928050
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Heading: Allowance for attorney fees.

Text: Petitioner asserts he should not be required to pay $2500 toward respondent's attorney fees for the first appeal. He points out § 598.11, The Code, permits such an allowance to enable such party to prosecute or defend the action, and argues respondent's cash and liquid assets are sufficient to finance her own appeal. Of course attorney fees are not recoverable as a matter of right in a dissolution proceeding. Such allowance depends upon one spouse's financial needs and the other spouse's ability to satisfy them. In re Marriage of Willcoxson, 250 N.W.2d 425, 427 (Iowa 1977); In re Marriage of Peterson, 227 N.W.2d 139, 142 (Iowa 1975). Considerable discretion is assigned trial court in allowance of attorney fees. In re Marriage of Winegard, 257 N.W.2d 609, 618 (Iowa 1977). At the remand hearing respondent introduced an itemized statement of services rendered by her attorneys on appeal, totaling $4206.31. She testified her attorneys had agreed not to charge her more than $3000 for their services, regardless of time spent. Although the record reflects respondent's attorneys spent much time and effort in successfully prosecuting her appeal, we find, in view of the property division and respective assets awarded these parties, that petitioner should be required to pay only $1500 of respondent's attorney fees. Of course in so ruling we do not fix the value of respondent's counsel fees, only the amount thereof which petitioner must pay. In re Marriage of McDowell, 244 N.W.2d 238, 240 (Iowa 1976); In re Marriage of Beard, 243 N.W.2d 565, 567 (Iowa 1976).