Court Opinion

ID: 9739947
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:24:01.091231+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:14.905494
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE FREEMAN, concurring in part and dissenting in part: I respectfully dissent from the portion of the majority’s opinion affirming the trial, court’s order directing the husband to pay a portion of the wife’s attorney fees. I concur with the majority’s opinion on the remaining issues in this appeal. Regarding the attorney fee issue, the majority concludes that the financial positions of the parties are “extreme,” (171 Ill. App. 3d at 930) and the husband is clearly in a position to assist the wife in the payment of her attorney fees. The majority holds that based on the evidence of the parties’ financial positions and the trial court’s order indicating that it had considered the relevant statutory factors, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in requiring the husband to pay $2,500 as partial payment of the wife’s attorney fees. The majority fails, however, to specify what evidence it relies on for its conclusion regarding the relative financial positions of the parties. I disagree with the majority’s conclusion and would find that the wife failed to show that she was unable to pay her attorney fees and that the husband was able to pay the fees on her behalf. Accordingly, I would reverse the trial court’s finding on this issue and require the wife to be responsible for payment of her own attorney fees. The evidence indicates that the husband’s net available income is $326.54 per month. This amount is based on his net income from his employment, less child support payments and property distribution to the wife. The husband’s average monthly expenses were shown to be $1,063.71. The husband therefore has a monthly deficit of $737.17. The wife, on the other hand, has a monthly gross income of $1,333 from her employment as a customer service representative, and also receives $322.50 monthly for child support and $319.44 monthly for property distribution from the husband. Further, she receives approximately $41.66 in additional monthly income from hair-cutting services she performs. The wife’s monthly gross income totals $1,974.94. The wife’s monthly expenses were shown to be $1,281. In her appellate brief, the wife points out that those figures relied on for the calculation of the income of the husband reflect net income, while the figures used for calculation of her income reflect gross income. The wife also asserts that the husband, in his brief, fails to discuss his accumulation of assets and equity in the marital home. I do not believe that these factors would change the result. Attorney fees are the primary responsibility of the party for whom the services are rendered. (In re Marriage of Meyer (1986), 140 Ill. App. 3d 1031, 489 N.E.2d 906.) Financial inability to pay the fees exists where payment would strip the person of the means of support and undermine her economic stability. (In re Marriage of Bentivenga (1982), 109 Ill. App. 3d 967, 441 N.E.2d 336.) Where the financial and other circumstances of both parties are substantially similar and the wife’s inability to pay has not been shown, an award of attorney fees is an abuse of discretion. In re Marriage of Miller (1980), 84 Ill. App. 3d 931, 405 N.E.2d 1099. In the instant case, the wife has not shown that she is unable to pay her own attorney fees or that the husband is in any better financial position to pay the fees than she is. (See Hofmann v. Hofmann (1983), 94 Ill. 2d 205, 446 N.E.2d 499.) The evidence indicates that based on his income and expenses, the husband suffers a monthly deficit. The wife, on the other hand, was shown to have sufficient income to meet her ongoing expenses. Further, the wife has a demonstrated earning ability which would continue for the future. (See In re Marriage of Carini (1983), 112 Ill. App. 3d 375, 445 N.E.2d 412.) As of September 15, 1986, she was employed as a customer service representative, earning $15,996 annually, and is able to earn additional income performing hair-cutting services. This income, in addition to the income she receives from the husband in property distribution and child support, shows the wife’s ability to pay her own attorney fees. Requiring the wife to pay $2,500 in attorney fees would not strip her of her means of support or undermine her economic stability. For the foregoing reasons, I would find that the trial court abused its discretion in ordering the husband to pay $2,500 of the wife’s attorney fees.