CA AB1179

Amends Section 271 of the Family Code to allow courts to award attorney's fees and costs based on conduct that furthers or frustrates settlement promotion and litigation cost reduction policies.

Requires notice to the party against whom sanctions are proposed and provides opportunity to be heard before imposing attorney's fees and costs sanctions.

Prohibits courts from imposing attorney's fees sanctions that create an unreasonable financial burden on the sanctioned party.

Eliminates the requirement that a party requesting attorney's fees must demonstrate financial need for the award.

Specifies that attorney's fees sanctions are payable only from the sanctioned party's property, income, or community property share.