LOS ANGELES, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles court commissioner overseeing Britney Spears' custody battle with Kevin Federline has ordered her to pay $120,000 for Federline's legal bills.
Spears and Federline, who are divorced, are embroiled in a high-profile legal fight over the custody of their two young children.
Federline has temporary physical custody of the boys, while Spears has been granted limited, monitored visits with them.
Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, asked for $160,000 on Oct. 10, stating his client had paid $31,900 and was "in immediate and dire need of attorneys' fees," E! Online reported.
Kaplan said his client has about $726,000 in assets, but $125,000 was already put aside for other bills.
"Even if a party has the ability to pay his or her own fees, a disparity in the parties' respective circumstances may itself demonstrate relative 'need,'" Commissioner Scott M. Gordon wrote in his decision.
Gordon also pointed out in his ruling that the "vast majority of the post-judgment litigation deals with (Spears') conduct," suggesting her behavior led to extra hours and work for both sides' legal teams.
