Record Showed A Disparity In Financial Conditions, With Ex-Wife’s Counsel’s Showing For The Fees Being Sufficient In Nature.
In Marriage of Bridges, Case No. F088836 et al. (5th Dist. Aug. 5, 2026) (unpublished), ex-wife was awarded Family Code section 2030/2032 needs-based fees of $159,669.44 where the record showed husband had liquidated substantial assets for material amounts and had substantial employment income, as compared to ex-wife who was unemployed. The appellate court affirmed the fee award, finding the following: (1) the case was complex for purposes of justifying the fee award; (2) ex-husband’s claim of only expending $65,000 was not comparable to the litigation tasks which had to be performed by ex-wife’s counsel; and (3) counsel’s declaration on the work was sufficient substantiation under California law.