In The End, The Award Was Just Because Ex-Husband Drove Up The Costs Of The Litigation.
Marriage of Houghteling, Case No. B348954 (2d Dist., Div. 6 Sept. 14, 2026) (unpublished) is interesting because the family law judge made some conflicting statements about the disparity to access factors, finding that maybe both sides had the same access to liquid assets. However, in the end, the lower court granted Family Code sections 2030/2032 needs-based fees of $40,000 in favor of ex-wife, prompting ex-husband’s appeal. The appellate court affirmed based on the statutory provisions that a just/reasonable award will pass muster. The lower court determined that ex-wife had expended $250,000 in dissolution fees, that ex-husband had expended $50,000 in fees, and that ex-husband had driven up the cost of litigation. Given the state of this record, there was no abuse of discretion in finding ex-husband should have to bear the brunt of his litigation strategy.