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654 So. 2d 1240

Docket No. 94-03070.

Blanton v. Blanton

Bettie Lou Hargis BLANTON, Appellant, v. Zane C. BLANTON, Appellee.

District Court of Appeal of Florida · decided 1995-05-10

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently March 2013

3 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

“obligation to provide spousal support during the term of a marriage includes responsibility for the payment of attorney’s fees and costs” ... [and this obligation] cannot be waived or contracted away”); Veiga v. Veiga, 563 So.2d 1089, 1090 (Fla. 5th DCA 1990) (finding that”

quoted by 1 later decision, including Schecter v. Schecter

Relies on Lawhon v. Lawhon

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1995-05-10

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

¶1Stevan T. Northcutt of Levine, Hirsch, Segall & Northcutt, P.A., Tampa, for appellant.

¶2James A. Yancey of DeVane, Munson, Allen & Yancey, Lakeland, for appellee.

¶3PATTERSON, Judge.

¶4The wife appeals from a final judgment of dissolution of marriage which denies her equitable distribution, costs, and attorney's fees based on the provisions of an antenuptial agreement. The trial court found the agreement to be enforceable and the wife has not appealed that determination. Because the agreement is valid and enforceable, we are compelled to affirm the harsh result in this case with one exception, that being the issue of the wife's attorney's fees. The trial court refused to consider the issue of fees and costs based upon a waiver contained in the agreement, which was error. A husband's obligation to provide spousal support during the term of the marriage includes responsibility for the payment of attorney's fees and costs when the normal criteria for the award of such fees and costs are met. This obligation cannot be waived or contracted away in an antenuptial agreement. Lawhon v. Lawhon,583 So.2d 776 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991).

¶5We therefore reverse and remand for further proceedings in which the trial court shall determine the wife's entitlement to an award of attorney's fees and costs pursuant to section 61.16, Florida Statutes (1991).

¶6CAMPBELL, A.C.J., and LAZZARA, J., concur.

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