JEFFREY S. BENTRIM
v.
ANGELA A. BENTRIM
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Angela A. Bentrim appealed an order denying her motion for attorneys' fees in a dissolution of marriage case. The trial court denied fees without making required findings of fact. The appellate court reversed the fee denial and remanded for the trial court to reconsider and make specific findings of fact regarding the parties' ability to pay and need for fees.
The trial court erred by denying attorneys' fees without making specific findings of fact as required by law. Mandatory findings regarding each spouse's ability to pay fees and the other spouse's need for fees are required before an award or denial of attorneys' fees can be upheld on appeal.
[1] In family law cases, a trial court must make specific findings of fact regarding each party's ability to pay attorney's fees and the other party's need for fees before gr…
Previewing 1 of 1 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“it is critical that the trial court makes 'specific findings of fact—either at the hearing or in the written judgment— supporting its determination of entitlement to an award of attorney's fees and the factors that justify the specific amount awarded.'”
Court explaining the mandatory nature of factual findings in attorneys' fees determinations
The parties were involved in a dissolution of marriage case. Both parties filed motions to modify the final judgment. The trial court entered an order…
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CIKLIN, J.
Angela A. Bentrim (“the former wife”) cross-appeals an order denying the parties’ motions to modify a final judgment of dissolution of marriage. Within the order, the trial court declined to award attorneys’ fees, simply stating, “Neither party is awarded attorney fees and costs.” We find merit in the former wife’s argument that the trial court erred by denying her motion for attorneys’ fees without making findings of fact within the subject order. [I]t is critical that the trial court makes “specific findings of fact—either at the hearing or in the written judgment— supporting its determination of entitlement to an award of attorney’s fees and the factors that justify the specific amount awarded. . . . [V]ague findings present an obstacle to meaningful appellate review.” Berg v. Young, 175 So. 3d 863, 870-71 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015) (second & third alterations in original) (quoting Fichtel v. Fichtel, 141 So. 3d 593, 596 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014)); see also Perrin v. Perrin, 795 So. 2d 1023, 1024 (Fla. 2d DCA 2001) (“[A] trial court cannot decide the issue of attorney’s fees without findings as to one spouse’s ability to pay fees and the other spouse’s need to have fees paid.”).
Due to the mandatory nature of these findings, we reverse that portion of the order at issue that denies fees and costs, and we “remand with directions that the trial court reconsider fees and make findings of fact sufficient to permit review of its decision.” Fichtel, 141 So. 3d at 596 (quoting Arena v. Arena, 103 So. 3d 1044, 1047 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013)).
We find the former wife’s remaining arguments either moot or without merit and we affirm the remainder of the challenged rulings without further discussion.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with instructions. TAYLOR and KUNTZ, JJ., concur. * * * Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Authorities Cited
- Perrin v. Perrin, 795 So. 2d 1023 (Fla. 2d DCA 2001)
- Elyse Fichtel v. Fichtel, 141 So. 3d 593 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014)
- Marcia L. Arena v. John F. Arena, 103 So. 3d 1044 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013)
- Berg v. Young, 175 So. 3d 863 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015)