Statute:

Counsel fees

ยง 438. Counsel fees. (a) In any proceeding under this article,
including proceedings for support of a spouse and children, or for
support of children only, or at any hearing to modify or enforce an
order entered in that proceeding or a proceeding to modify a decree of
divorce, separation, or annulment, including an appeal under article
eleven, the court may allow counsel fees at any stage of the proceeding,
to the attorney representing the spouse, former spouse or person on
behalf of children.

(b) In any proceeding for failure to obey any lawful order compelling
payment of support of a spouse or former spouse and children, or of
children only, the court shall, upon a finding that such failure was
willful, order respondent to pay counsel fees to the attorney
representing the petitioner or person on behalf of the children.
Representation by an attorney pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision
nine of section one hundred eleven-b of the social services law shall
not preclude an award of counsel fees to an applicant which would
otherwise be allowed under this section.

FCT 438 2014-09-22

Sections:

Article 4 - Support Proceedings
Part 1 - (411 - 418) Jurisdiction And Duties Of Support
411 - Jurisdiction
412 - Married person's duty to support spouse.
413 - Parents' duty to support child.
413-A - Review and cost of living adjustment of child support orders.
415 - Duties to support recipient of public assistance or welfare and patients in institutions in the department of mental hygiene.
416 - Elements of support; provisions for accident, life and health insurance benefits.
417 - Child of ceremonial marriage.
418 - Genetic marker and DNA tests; admissibility of records or reports of test results; costs of tests.
Part 2 - (421 - 430) Venue And Preliminary Procedure
421 - Venue.
422 - Persons who may originate proceedings.
423 - Petition; prior demand not required.
424 - Probation services.
424-A - Compulsory financial disclosure.
425 - Agreement to support.
426 - Issuance of summons.
427 - Service of summons.
428 - Issuance of warrant; certificate of warrant.
429 - Sequestration of respondent's property.
430 - Temporary order of protection.
Part 3 - (431 - 439-A) Hearing
431 - Preliminary procedure on warrant.
432 - Procedure before court.
433 - Enacted without section heading.
434 - Order for temporary child support.
434-A - Order for temporary spousal support.
435 - Procedure; adjournment; confidentiality of requests.
436 - Competence of spouse.
437 - Presumption of sufficient means.
437-A - Referral to work programs.
438 - Counsel fees.
439 - Support magistrates.
439-A - Expedited process.
Part 4 - (440 - 449) Orders
440 - Order of support.
441 - Order dismissing petition.
442 - Order of support by a spouse.
443 - Order of support by parent.
445 - Order of support by relative; duration.
446 - Order of protection.
446-A - Firearms; surrender and license suspension, revocation and ineligibility.
447 - Order of visitation.
448 - Enforcement by income deduction.
449 - Effective date of order of support.
Part 5 - (451 - 460) Compliance With Orders
451 - Continuing jurisdiction.
453 - Petition; violation of court order.
454 - Powers of the court on violation of a support order.
455 - Commitment.
456 - Probation.
457 - Order of sequestration on failure to obey support order.
458-A - Enforcement of arrears; Suspension of driving privileges.
458-B - Child support proceedings and enforcement of arrears; suspension of state professional, occupational and business licenses.
458-C - Child support proceedings and enforcement of arrears; suspension of recreational licenses.
459 - Additional arrears.
460 - Entry and docketing of a money judgment.
Part 6 - (461 - 469) Effect Of Action For Separation, Divorce Or Annulment
461 - Duty to support child after separation agreement, separation, or termination of marriage.
462 - Effect of support order in matrimonial action on duration of family court support order for child.
463 - Effect of separation agreement on duty to support a spouse.
464 - Effect of pendency of action for divorce, separation or annulment on petition for support of a spouse.
465 - Effect of denial of support in action for separation.
466 - Effect of granting of support in action for divorce, separation or annulment.
467 - Referral by supreme court of applications to fix custody in action for divorce, separation or annulment.
469 - Rules of court; venue.
Part 7 - (471 - 479) Undertaking
471 - Undertaking for support and cash deposits.
472 - Undertaking to be filed.
473 - Substitution of surety.
474 - Default.
475 - Procedure as to defaults.
476 - Forfeitures applied to support of petitioner.
477 - Surrender of respondent by surety.
478 - Termination of surety's liability.
479 - When new security required.

Search Decisions Citing Statute