As an experienced New Jersey Divorce Lawyer I am regularly asked if the court can make a spouse pay for the other spouse’s legal fees. When you’re talking about fees and one spouse paying for the other spouse’s fees, you have to look at the incomes because oftentimes you have one spouse that makes a lot more than the other spouse. When you have that disproportionate income situation between the spouses, the courts will give some legal fees – now, not generally all legal fees. The next step is if you have a spouse that does not have independent means of income, you look to assets. Oftentimes, both spouses will use equity in their house, 401(k)s, any stocks, investments, automobiles, personal items, and things that have some value that the individuals would be able to sell to pay for legal fees.
Are you trying to get your spouse to pay for your legal fees during a divorce? If so, contact the experienced New Jersey Divorce Lawyer Christopher Leon Garibian.
This educational blog was brought to you by Christopher Leon Garibian, an experienced New Jersey Divorce Lawyer.