In Re Marriage of Keech

In a dissolution action between appellant Richard C. Keech (husband) and Kristan Keech (wife), husband appeals from an order that determined, pendente lite, the amount of monthly spousal support and child support for which husband would be responsible, and the amount of wife’s attorney and accountant’s fees and costs husband was required to pay.

Husband’s primary contention on appeal is that the court abused its discretion in ordering husband to pay $3,200 of wife’s accountant’s fees at the rate of $1,000 per month for the first three months, and $25,000 of wife’s attorney fees at a rate of $500 per month thereafter. According to husband the required monthly payments of wife’s professional fees, in conjunction with the amount of child and spousal support he was ordered to pay, left him insufficient funds upon which to live. Husband further complains about the manner in which the court determined that he should pay those fees and costs. In the published portion of this opinion, we conclude that the manner in which the trial court ordered husband to pay a “contributive share” of wife’s attorney fees and costs under Family Code section 2030 et seq. was an abuse of…