First Wife Joined Second Wife In Dissolution Proceeding.

A first wife alleged her former husband fraudulently transferred property to his second wife, so the first wife joined the second wife as a third party to the dissolution proceeding and moved for attorney fees under Family Code section 2030, subdivision (d), [“Any order requiring a party who is not the spouse of another party to the proceeding to pay attorney’s fees or costs shall be limited to an amount reasonably necessary to maintain or defend the action on the issues relating to that party.”] The first wife claimed she was entitled to $628,333.33 in omitted community property assets, and the trial court ordered the second wife to pay the first wife $131,750 in attorney fees. On appeal, the second wife argued that amount for fees was not reasonably necessary to be represented at the pleading stage, but the appellate court found the trial judge acted within the court’s judicial discretion during the dissolution proceeding. Bendetti v. Gunness  (Cal. App. Second Dist., Div. 5; March 19, 2013) 214 Cal.App.4th 863.