03-1183 GOLIGHTLY V. GOLIGHTLY

State: Florida

Court: Florida Third District Court

Docket No: 03-1183 GOLIGHTLY V. GOLIGHTLY

Case Date: 12/08/2004

Preview:NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, IF FILED, DISPOSED OF. IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF FLORIDA THIRD DISTRICT JULY TERM A.D., 2004 STACEY GOLIGHTLY, Appellant, vs. RICHARD THOMAS GOLIGHTLY, JR., Appellee. ** ** ** ** ** CASE NOS. 3D03-1183 3D03-1697 LOWER TRIBUNAL NO. 98-21683

Opinion filed December 8, 2004. Appeals from the Circuit Court for Miami-Dade County, Rosa I. Rodriguez, Judge. Iris N. Sachs, for appellant. Mary Raymond, for appellee. Before COPE, SHEVIN and SHEPHERD, JJ. PER CURIAM. We reverse the order denying the former wife's attorney's fees motion. There is no record support for the trial court's

conclusion that the former wife's defense to the former husband's motion to modify custody "was raised mainly to

frustrate or stall" the proceedings, Rosen v. Rosen, 696 So. 2d 697, 700 (Fla. 1997); Nash v. Nash, 624 So. 2d 370, 372 (Fla. 3d DCA 1993); the trial court denied the former husband's motion after a full hearing. As the transcript of the fee motion

hearing demonstrates, the former wife's actions following the court's denial of the modification motion were based on wellfounded reasons. Therefore, we reverse and remand for the trial

court to determine the fee issue based on need and ability to pay. Rosen. We also reverse the guardian ad litem fee award, and remand for a determination based on the parties' need and ability to pay. See Meloan v. Coverdale, 525 So. 2d 935, 938 (Fla. 3d DCA

1988). Reversed and remanded.

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