can my ex husband get me for attorney fees when i can not afford a lawyer in il

In Illinois, during a divorce, either party can ask the court to order the other party to pay some or all of his or her attorney fees while the case is pending.

Full Answer

Can a spouse pay for a divorce attorney’s fees?

Whether or not attorney fees are granted is in the discretion of the court. In this state, in general, attorney fees are not ordinarily awarded unless the opposing party is at fault (i.e. in contempt of a custody order, in breach of a property settlement agreement, etc.) and usually only if the breach is egregious. To arrange an initial consultation to discuss divorce rights for men with a Cordell …

Can I force my spouse to pay for a lawyer?

The Code goes on to state that “In order to obtain an award under this section, the party requesting an award of attorney's fees and costs is not required to demonstrate any financial need for the award.”. Therefore, even if the party seeking an award of attorney’s fees and costs can afford to pay his/her own legal fees, if the other party is acting in a manner so as to drive …

Can a judge order a person to pay for their ex’s lawyer?

Advance on Equitable Distribution. If a spouse does not qualify for a full or partial award of attorney’s, there is still another option to make paying divorce attorney’s fees feasible. A spouse can petition the court to receive an advance on their portion of equitable distribution in the beginning of a divorce case to pay for attorney’s fees. If granted by the judge, this will allow …

Can a judge award Attorney’s fees to an innocent spouse?

Feb 11, 2013 · No she can't make you pay for her attorney's fees. There are various circumstances that we look at before we determine whether one should pay the other spouse's attorney's fees and if the parties don't agree, it is up to the judge to decide. In your case, I do not believe the judge will order you to pay. ReportAbuse.

Who pays court fees in divorce?

the petitionerThe simple fact is that the petitioner always pays the divorce fees. The person filing for the divorce (known as the Petitioner) will always pay the divorce filing fee.

What happens if you dont pay lawyer fees?

Failure to collect a large legal fee can endanger the lawyer's standing in his firm and within the larger legal or client community. Fee collection claims often lead to ethical complaints, and counterclaims for malpractice, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, or breach of contract.

What is unethical for a lawyer?

Attorney misconduct may include: conflict of interest, overbilling, refusing to represent a client for political or professional motives, false or misleading statements, knowingly accepting worthless lawsuits, hiding evidence, abandoning a client, failing to disclose all relevant facts, arguing a position while ...

What should you not say to a lawyer?

Five things not to say to a lawyer (if you want them to take you..."The Judge is biased against me" Is it possible that the Judge is "biased" against you? ... "Everyone is out to get me" ... "It's the principle that counts" ... "I don't have the money to pay you" ... Waiting until after the fact.Jan 15, 2010

What is bad faith in divorce?

BAD FAITH/FAULT: A judge will also sometimes award attorney’s fees based not on the financial status of the party but on the basis of fault. Sometimes one side in a divorce case will engage in bad faith behavior that causes a case to drag out unnecessarily, causing the innocent spouse’s attorney’s fees to increase unfairly.

What is child custody?

Child Custody. Including enforcement or modification of support or custody orders. When a divorcing couple’s financial situation is not completely one-sided, courts will sometimes order the spouse with a larger income to pay a percentage of the other party’s attorney’s fees in proportion to each spouse’s income.

Does a good marriage end in divorce?

Although it may be true that “no good marriage ends in divorce,” it is just as true that the worthwhile process can be a strain both emotionally and financially. Not only are you dividing your assets, but each of side will have attorney’s fees for just about everything the divorce involves.

Is attorney's fee a community obligation?

Attorney's fees for the divorce are a community obligation-just as joint bills you may have run up while you were married. If you were represented during the divorce, your attorney's fees are chargeable to the community as well, so the two charges would offset one another, normally.

Do you have to pay a court order?

If it was part of the original court order, or in any subsequent order to make sure you paid, then yes, you will have to pay. Talk with your attorney to see what the orders said.

Do I have to pay my attorney's fees?

What does the Order say? If she has a Court Order requiring you to pay her attorney's fees, then yes, you are required to pay her attorney's fees because it is in the Order. If an Order has been issued that does not include attorney's fees (or leave the issue open for later determination), then I don't see how she can obtain attorney's fees. If the case is still open, she could request the Court to order you to pay her attorney's fees. Since the issue surrounds past due child support, a Judge could ultimately award her attorney's fees, but the Court would take into consideration your current financial circumstances.

Can a judge order you to pay for her fees?

A judge could order you to pay for her fees depending on how much she makes. If you owed support, there may be an automatic right to get attorney fees from you for collection.

Can my wife ask for attorney fees?

If you and your wife cannot reach a settlement, which will usually waive claims for attorney fees, and the case goes to a full trial, then she can ask for attorney fees. However, attorney fees are in most cases only awarded to the "less monied spouse", meaning that if your wife makes about the same or more than you do, then it is likely that her request for attorney fees will be denied.

Why does the judge order one side to pay a fine?

There are also instances in divorces and legal separations where the judge may order one side to pay a sanction (like a fine) because he or she behaves in an illegal or unethical way. Examples include situations where one party:

What to do if your court order is related to divorce?

If your court’s family law facilitator or self-help center helps people with orders related to a divorce, ask them to review your paperwork. They can make sure you filled it out properly before you move ahead with your case.

What are some examples of family law cases?

Some examples include custody and visitation cases where the parents are not married to each other, child or spousal support cases, and domestic violence cases.

Who signs a court order?

If the judge makes a decision at the court hearing, the judge will sign a court order. In some courtrooms, the clerk or court staff will prepare this order for the judge ’s signature. In other courtrooms, it is the responsibility of the person who asked for the hearing to prepare the court order for the judge to sign.

Who prepares court orders?

In some courtrooms, the clerk or court staff will prepare this order for the judge’s signature. In other courtrooms, it is the responsibility of the person who asked for the hearing to prepare the court order for the judge to sign. If either side has a lawyer, the lawyer will usually be asked to prepare the order.

What issues need to be resolved in a divorce?

The issues that need to be resolved in your divorce are property & debt, child custody, child support and spousal support. Additionally, attorney fees need to be considered and resolved in a way that makes sense for you and your spouse. The Family Code allows the court to award fees in the amount that are “reasonably necessary” to properly litigate ...

What is need based fee?

The Family Code allows the court to award fees in the amount that are “reasonably necessary” to properly litigate and/or negotiate a divorce. “Need based” fees can be requested at any point during your divorce.

Is California a no fault divorce state?

Since California is a ‘no fault’ divorce state, fees are not awarded for ‘bad’ behavior outside the context of the divorce action. So, for example, if the reason you are obtaining a divorce is because your spouse habitually cheated on you, the court will not consider that as a basis for awarding you fees.