454.910. Payment of fees and costs, attorney's fees. - Missouri Statutes

Payment of fees and costs, attorney's fees.

454.910. (a) The petitioner may not be required to pay a filing feeor other costs.

(b) If an obligee prevails, a responding tribunal may assess againstan obligor filing fees, reasonable attorney's fees, other costs, andnecessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred by the obligee andthe obligee's witnesses. The tribunal may not assess fees, costs, orexpenses against the obligee or the support enforcement agency of eitherthe initiating or the responding state, except as provided by other law.Attorney's fees may be taxed as costs, and may be ordered paid directly tothe attorney, who may enforce the order in the attorney's own name.Payment of support owed to the obligee has priority over fees, costs andexpenses.

(c) The tribunal shall order the payment of costs and reasonableattorney's fees if it determines that a hearing was requested primarily fordelay. In a proceeding under sections 454.948 to 454.981, a hearing ispresumed to have been requested primarily for delay if a registered supportorder is confirmed or enforced without change.

(L. 1996 H.B. 992, A.L. 1997 S.B. 361)

Effective 7-1-97