Expert Fee Awards
Expert Fee Awards
By J. Douglas Barics
Long Island Divorce Attorney
Expert fee awards are a court order directing one spouse to pay expert fees. An expert is someone who is qualified to give opinion testimony as opposed to non experts, who can testify as to facts they observed but they cannot give opinions.
In a matrimonial action the most common experts are as follows:
- Custody experts to evaluate the mental health of both parents
- Experts to establish the value of real property
- Experts to determine the value of a business
- Document experts to determine if documents were altered
This list is not exhaustive and each divorce may need a specialized expert for various issues.
Placing value is critical as unless the court has a value assigned to an asset, it cannot properly dispose of that asset in many circumstances. This is especially true when the asset is held by one spouse only and it cannot easily be sold.
In these circumstances, having an expert can increase the value of the marital estate which will be divided under equitable distribution.
Expert fee awards are designed to make sure that the spouse who has less resources can obtain the necessary expert and is not waiving his or her share of marital assets due to a lack of funds in having them valued.
Call for a Free Phone Consultation or to Schedule a Low Cost Office Consultation
If you have have additional questions about obtaining expert fees in your matrimonial action, or if your spouse may seek an expert fee award against you, contact our office to learn about your legal options for protecting your rights to help insure that any award is appropriate under the circumstances. To get your free phone consultation or to make an appointment, call (631) 864-2600. Serving clients in Suffolk, Nassau, Queens, Manhattan, Bronx, Westchester. Rockland, Orange and other surrounding counties are accepted on a case by case basis.
Divorce and Matrimonial
Divorce and Matrimonial Law Overview
Divorce
Annulments
Void Marriages
Matrimonial Appeals
Equitable Distribution
Maintenance
Child Support
Custody
Counsel Fees
Expert Fees
Exclusive Occupancy
Pendente Lite Motions
Same Sex Divorce
Modification of Child Support
Modification of Maintenance
High Net Worth Divorces
Marital Agreements
Complex Challenges