Opinion ID: 2745077
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Attorney Fees Order

Text: [¶27] Father argues that if this Court reverses the district court’s contempt findings, we must also reverse the award of attorney fees because the district court tied that award to its contempt findings. We disagree. [¶28] The district court did indeed find that the fees award was appropriate because of the contempt findings. The court also found, however, that fees should be awarded pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 20-2-111 because Mother was required to bring her contempt motion as a means of enforcing the divorce decree. In its decision letter addressing Mother’s application for attorney fees, the court explained, in part: “The decision to award attorney’s fees rests within the sound discretion of the district court when such fees are authorized by statute.” Russell v. Russell, 948 P.2d 1351, 1355 (Wyo. 1997), citing Rocha v. Rocha, 925 P.2d 231, 234 (Wyo. 1996). Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 20-2-111 states that [i]n every action brought for divorce, the court may require either party to pay any sum necessary to enable the other to carry on or defend the action and for support and the support of the children of the parties during its pendency. The court may decree costs against either party and award execution for the costs, or it may direct costs to be paid out of any property sequestered, in the power of the court, or in the hands of a receiver. The court may direct payment to either party for such purpose of any sum due and owing from any person. The Wyoming Supreme Court has said that the above section allows a party to obtain attorney’s fees for the original divorce action, as well as any attorney’s fees incurred in enforcing the divorce decree. Burnett v. Steeley, 190 P.3d 132, 139, 2008 WY 94, ¶ 33 (Wyo. 2008). This Court has discretion to award attorney’s fees where it sees fit and when it is allowed by statute. The Court finds that it is allowed under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 20-2-111 to grant attorney’s fees when a party must bring an action to enforce a divorce decree. [Mother] had to do that and fees are appropriate. .... The Court finds [Father] has purged himself of the contempt. However, this Court also finds [Mother] is entitled to attorney’s fees for costs associated with the contempt of court issue. [Mother’s Attorney] submitted an [Affidavit of 9 Costs] on December 11, 2013 and an itemized billing sheet showing the time spent on the Motion for Order Show Cause in the amount of $3,288.00. The Court finds [Father] is to pay [Mother] $3,288.00 for attorney’s fees incurred enforcing the Decree of Divorce within sixty (60) days of the date this Decision Letter is filed. [¶29] Although we have reversed the district court’s orders of contempt in relation to the visitation and health insurance portions of the court’s Order on Motion for Contempt, we find no abuse of discretion in the court’s award of attorney fees to Mother. Regardless of whether there was the required clear and convincing evidence to support a contempt holding, the record does show that Mother was forced to file her motion in order to enforce the divorce decree and the parties’ Agreement. The record shows that although the parties’ divorce was finalized by February 2013, Father had not obtained health insurance for KEB by the time Mother filed her contempt motion in July 2013. Indeed, it was not until after the show cause motion was filed that Father took steps to obtain the insurance. Additionally, the contempt motion was required to enforce Mother’s right under the Agreement to use outbuildings associated with the marital residence. Under these circumstances, the district court did not abuse its discretion in ruling that Mother was entitled to an award of attorney fees. See Burnett v. Steeley, 2008 WY 94, ¶ 33, 190 P.3d 132, 139 (Wyo. 2008) (“There is no question that [Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 20-2-111] allows a party to obtain reimbursement of attorney’s fees incurred in original divorce actions as well as proceedings to modify or enforce divorce decrees.”).