Opinion ID: 1313651
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Heading: Sherry's Request for Appellate Attorney Fees

Text: The final issue in this appeal is Sherry's request for appellate attorney fees. An award of appellate attorney fees is within the discretion of the appellate court. In re Marriage of Ask, 551 N.W.2d at 646 (citing In re Marriage of Gaer, 476 N.W.2d 324, 326 (Iowa 1991)). Whether such an award is warranted is determined by considering the needs of the party making the request, the ability of the other party to pay, and whether the party making the request was obligated to defend the trial court's decision on appeal. Id. (citing In re Marriage of Gaer, 476 N.W.2d at 326). Because we do not have any evidence of the parties' respective ability to pay, we remand the case to the district court to determine Sherry's entitlement to fees and the amount, if any, thereof. See Schaffer v. Frank Moyer Constr., Inc., 628 N.W.2d 11, 23 (Iowa 2001) ([U]nder our current practice, the issue of appellate attorney fees is `frequently determined in the first instance in the district court because of the necessity for making a record.' (quoting Lehigh Clay Prods., Ltd. v. Iowa Dep't of Transp., 545 N.W.2d 526, 530 n. 2 (Iowa 1996))); see also Markey v. Carney, 705 N.W.2d 13, 27 (Iowa 2005) (remanding to district court to determine appellate attorney fees); GreatAmerica Leasing Corp. v. Cool Comfort Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc., 691 N.W.2d 730, 734 (Iowa 2005) (same); In re Marriage of McCurnin, 681 N.W.2d at 333 (same).