# Do I have to pay his attorney fees?

**URL:** <https://forum.rosen.com/t/do-i-have-to-pay-his-attorney-fees/15431>\
**Category:** Divorce and Separation Answers\
**Created:** [December 14, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.rosen.com/t/do-i-have-to-pay-his-attorney-fees/15431 "2013-12-14T17:47:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![spyfox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@spyfox](https://forum.rosen.com/u/spyfox)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.rosen.com/t/do-i-have-to-pay-his-attorney-fees/15431/1 "2013-12-14T17:47:14Z")

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I went to a lawyer to get help with filing the initial paperwork for post separation support, ED and alimony. My husband in turn hired an attorney and filed for divorce. I answered the divorce pending post separation support, ED and alimony. Since then we have been to court for the divorce in Wake County which I did not contest and everything else is pending in Granville County.

When I received the summons from his lawyer I contacted the attorney that I met with. She told me that I really needed a lawyer and that I should not pay my mortgage and so that I can afford to pay her. I found that to be really bad advise. I do not have any money to hire an attorney. I went to court in Granville County without a lawyer and got scolded by the judge because I didn’t have a lawyer and the judge told me that he could make me pay my ex’s lawyer for causing him to hire one. He told me that I need to hire a lawyer and set a date for a month from then which is coming up very soon. I still do not have money for a lawyer. I shook that tree in the back yard really hard and still no money fell out!!!

Since then I have gotten a letter from his lawyer saying that I am paying her fees. Can I be forced to pay his attorney’s fees?

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**Author:** ![Kathleen\_Putiri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@Kathleen\_Putiri](https://forum.rosen.com/u/Kathleen_Putiri)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://forum.rosen.com/t/do-i-have-to-pay-his-attorney-fees/15431/2 "2013-12-16T00:16:14Z")

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There are provisions in our statutes that allow for the court to order the award of [attorney’s fees in child support and child custody cases](http://www.rosen.com/childcustody/carticles/attorneys-fees-child-support-custody/), and [attorney’s fees in alimony cases](http://www.rosen.com/alimony/alimonyarticles/attorneys-fees-for-alimony-proceedings/). Whether attorney’s fees are awarded is at the discretion of the judge.

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**Author:** ![Waterfall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/53a042/32.png) [@Waterfall](https://forum.rosen.com/u/Waterfall)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://forum.rosen.com/t/do-i-have-to-pay-his-attorney-fees/15431/3 "2013-12-16T17:04:42Z")

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- Not an Attorney \*

You might need to take out a loan for an attorney or an advance on your CC … Now that your going into the support & ED, His attorney will try to maneuver you into a corner since you have no representation. Rosen Online offers advice & forms for $199 a month. Its a start, and something to guide you professionally & legally.  
As for your letter from the other attorney, You have to pay the attorney fees ONLY if a judge ordered it. Did this attorney send you any paperwork indicating this was ordered by a judge? Careful of attorneys that bully you with legal language you don’t understand.