This bill amends sections 61.16 and 742.045 of the Florida Statutes to enhance the court's authority regarding the awarding of attorney fees, suit money, and costs in various legal proceedings, including appellate cases. It allows courts to award these fees retroactively and prospectively, and includes provisions for the inclusion of costs incurred in pursuing such awards. The bill also establishes that a court may not award fees to a noncompliant party in enforcement actions and that applications for fees do not require corroborating expert testimony. Additionally, it emphasizes the court's continuing jurisdiction to make temporary awards necessary for appeals and allows consideration of whether a good faith settlement offer was rejected when determining fee awards.

Furthermore, the bill introduces measures to address vexatious or bad faith litigation, permitting courts to sanction offending parties by awarding fees to the opposing party or reducing the fees awarded to the offending party. It mandates that any order related to such sanctions must include written findings detailing the specific conduct and reasons for the court's decision. The bill also prioritizes the payment of support owed to the obligee over fees and costs, and clarifies that in Title IV-D cases, fees and costs will only be assessed against the nonprevailing obligor after assessing their ability to pay. Overall, the bill aims to provide clearer guidelines and protections regarding the awarding of attorney fees and costs in Florida's legal system.

Statutes affected:
S 644 Filed: 61.16, 742.045
S 644 c1: 61.16, 742.045
S 644 c2: 61.16, 742.045