Legal Question in Family Law in California

You would need to properly petition the court in a motion for your fees. Please discuss your options with a skilled family law attorney.

The court has the power to equitably allocate the burden of attorneys fees, and to use an award of attorneys fees from one side to the other as a penalty for specific types of misconduct set forth in various code sections. There is no automatic rule, but inequality of financial circumstances is one factor that can support an award of fees to the less financially advantaged party.