Christou v. Baldree

District Court of Appeal of Florida

Christou v. Baldree

186 So. 3d 631, 2016 WL 830359

CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida

DecidedFebruary 29, 2016

Docket5D15-2005

StatusPublished

This text of 186 So. 3d 631 (Christou v. Baldree) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Christou v. Baldree, 186 So. 3d 631, 2016 WL 830359 (Fla. Ct. App. 2016).

Pincite

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

The trial court erred in awarding attorney’s fees 1 against Robert Christou, the Respondent in the paternity action below. A court in a domestic relations proceeding that is without personal jurisdiction over the respondent may not order the respondent to pay attorney’s fees. See Beroes v. Fla. Dep’t of Revenue, 958 So.2d 489, 492 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007); Steffens v. Steffens, 593 So.2d 1156, 1158 (Fla. 2d DCA 1992); Montano v. Montano, 520 So.2d 52, 53 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988).

REVERSED AND REMANDED.

ORFINGER, EVANDER and WALLIS, JJ., concur.

1

. The fees were awarded pursuant to section 742.045, Florida Statutes (2014), which authorizes a court to award attorney's fees in a paternity action after consideration of the party’s'"financial resources.”

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