Sec. 46b-62. (Formerly Sec. 46-59). Orders for payment of attorney's fees in certain actions.
Sec. 46b-62. (Formerly Sec. 46-59). Orders for payment of attorney's fees in
certain actions. In any proceeding seeking relief under the provisions of this chapter
and sections 17b-743, 17b-744, 45a-257, 46b-1, 46b-6, 46b-212 to 46b-213v, inclusive,
47-14g, 51-348a and 52-362, the court may order either spouse or, if such proceeding
concerns the custody, care, education, visitation or support of a minor child, either parent
to pay the reasonable attorney's fees of the other in accordance with their respective
financial abilities and the criteria set forth in section 46b-82. If, in any proceeding under
this chapter and said sections, the court appoints an attorney for a minor child, the court
may order the father, mother or an intervening party, individually or in any combination,
to pay the reasonable fees of the attorney or may order the payment of the attorney's
fees in whole or in part from the estate of the child. If the child is receiving or has
received state aid or care, the compensation of the attorney shall be established and paid
by the Commission on Child Protection.
(P.A. 73-373, S. 27; P.A. 78-230, S. 44, 54; P.A. 86-264, S. 16; P.A. 88-41; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-1, S. 54, 75;
P.A. 07-159, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 78-230 rephrased provisions and deleted reference to Sec. 46-5h; Sec. 46-59 transferred to Sec. 46b-62 in
1979 and references to other sections within provisions revised as necessary to reflect their transfer; P.A. 86-264 eliminated
maximum compensation of $100 for attorney if child is or has received state aid or care and added provision that such
compensation be established by, and paid from funds appropriated to, the judicial department; P.A. 88-41 authorized the
court to order either parent to pay the reasonable attorney's fees of the other if the proceeding concerns the custody, care,
education, visitation or support of a minor child and to order an intervening party individually or in any combination with
the father and mother to pay the reasonable fees of an attorney appointed by the court for a minor child; June 18 Sp. Sess.
P.A. 97-1 made a technical change, effective January 1, 1998; P.A. 07-159 replaced provision re reasonable compensation
of attorney established by, and paid from funds appropriated to, Judicial Department with provision re compensation of
attorney established and paid by Commission on Child Protection, effective July 1, 2007.
Annotations to former section 46-59:
Cited. 171 C. 218. Cited. 172 C. 202; Id., 316. Cited. 174 C. 602. Cited. 183 C. 433.
Annotations to present section:
Trial court erred in awarding attorney's fees since evidence warranted no award of alimony and that same evidence
must be considered for the award of attorney's fees. 180 C. 376. Where, because of other orders, both parties are able
financially to pay their own counsel fees trial court erred in ordering payment of counsel fees. 181 C. 492. Cited. Id., 622.
Cited. 183 C. 35. Cited. 184 C. 36. A definitive award of counsel fees should not ordinarily be made until after a trial where
evidence relating to the criteria set forth in Sec. 46b-82 has been presented. Id., 513. Cited. 185 C. 42; Id., 156; Id., 275.
Cited. 186 C. 311. Cited. 188 C. 232. Cited. 189 C. 129. Cited. 190 C. 26; Id., 36. In awarding counsel fees the focus of
the inquiry is not on the payor-spouse but rather on the total financial resources of the parties in light of the statutory
criteria. Id., 173. Cited. Id., 269; Id., 491. Cited. 191 C. 46; Id., 81. Cited. 193 C. 261. Cited. 194 C. 25; Id., 312. Cited.
207 C. 48. Cited. 210 C. 462. Cited. 211 C. 485; Id., 648. Cited. 218 C. 801. Cited. 222 C. 32. Cited. 225 C. 185. Trial
court had authority under this section to award attorney's fees to plaintiff without first finding defendant in contempt;
judgment of appellate court in Dobozy v. Dobozy, 41 CA 861, reversed. 241 C. 490. Present case distinguishable from
Maguire v. Maguire, 222 C. 32, because here record supports finding that plaintiff either lacked liquid assets to pay attorney
fees or such fees would undermine effect of the other financial orders. 245 C. 508.
Cited. 1 CA 158; Id., 400; Id., 686. Cited. 2 CA 141; Id., 425; Id., 472. Cited. 3 CA 25. Cited. 4 CA 504; Id., 645. Cited.
5 CA 95. Cited. 6 CA 632. Cited. 7 CA 41. "Must be construed to permit the award of attorney's fees in child support
actions filed on behalf of illegitimate children." 8 CA 50. Cited. 9 CA 486. Cited. 10 CA 22; Id., 466; Id., 570. Language
of this section and Sec. 46b-82 does not provide for consideration of status of legal services rendered, whether private or
nonprofit, in awarding attorney's fees. 11 CA 150. Cited. Id., 268; Id., 610. Cited. 12 CA 626. Cited. 13 CA 300; Id., 512.
Cited. 14 CA 541. Cited. 16 CA 193; Id., 412. Cited. 18 CA 622. Cited. 19 CA 146. Cited. 21 CA 200. Cited. 22 CA 136;
Id., 392. Cited. 23 CA 98. Cited. 24 CA 343. Cited. 25 CA 41. Cited. 26 CA 527. Cited. 28 CA 854; judgment reversed,
see 228 C. 85. Cited. 30 CA 292; Id., 443. Cited. 31 CA 561; Id., 582; Id., 761. Cited. 32 CA 537; Id., 733. Cited. 34 CA
462; judgment reversed, see 232 C. 750. Cited. 35 CA 246. Cited. 36 CA 305; Id., 322. Cited. 39 CA 162. Cited. 41 CA
716; Id., 861. Cited. 44 CA 605. Cited. 46 CA 87. Court can award attorney's fees for appeal of case it dismissed for lack
of subject matter jurisdiction. 48 CA 645. Trial court properly found that defendant was liable for plaintiff's attorney's
fees but improperly awarded a dollar amount for such fees without an appropriate evidentiary showing to determine the
reasonableness of such award. 54 CA 634. Trial court's discretion should be guided so that its decision regarding attorney's
fees does not undermine its purpose in making any other financial award. 57 CA 165. Trial court did not abuse its discretion
in ordering plaintiff to pay four thousand dollars in counsel fees to defendant to defend the appeal. 69 CA 146. Reiterated
previous holdings that specific finding concerning award of attorney's fees not required if record would support a finding
that the party to whom attorney's fees are charged does not have sufficient liquid assets to pay such fees or that failure to
award such fees would undermine other financial orders of the court. 79 CA 783. Trial court abused its discretion in
awarding plaintiff counsel fees of $100,000 because court could not reasonably have concluded that plaintiff was financially
unable able to pay her counsel fees or that the failure to award such fees would undermine court's other financial orders.
82 CA 41. Trial court did not abuse its discretion when it determined plaintiff lacked funds to defend appeal and ordered
defendant to pay a set fee to plaintiff's attorney. 83 CA 478. Trial court judgment awarding attorney's fees award must be
reversed because court's basis for award was improper. 102 CA 1. Trial court improperly decided issue regarding who
drafted agreement and therefore award of counsel fees was improper. Id., 96. Although the order for payment of guardian
ad litem fees requires consideration of the financial resources of both parties and the criteria set forth in Sec. 46b-82,
postdissolution fault is not a factor included among those enumerated in said section, and there is no requirement that the
court consider any additional factors or evidence deemed relevant by any of the parties. 107 CA 488.