Kevin Costner’s estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner, has asked a court to deny the actor’s request to help pay her legal fees amid their ongoing bitter divorce.
In court documents obtained by Entertainment Tonight on Friday, The Yellowstone actor, 68, asked his ex, 49, to help pay his $100,000 in legal fees.
However, the designer, who was recently spotted vacationing with Costner’s banker friend in Hawaii, responded by asking a judge to deny the star’s request.
He claimed that the Oscar winner would not have collected such a significant fee if he had not filed a motion to quickly evict her from their $145 million mansion in Santa Barbara.
Earlier this month, according to the documents, Kevin was ordered to pay $200,000 in attorney fees as well as $100,000 in forensic costs. He asked Christine to pay a third of the total fee – which came to $100,000.
Divorce battle: Kevin Costner, 68, estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner, 49, has asked a court to deny the actor’s request that she help pay his legal fees amid their ongoing bitter divorce; Seen in March 2022
Baumgartner, however, argued that Costner could have avoided such a high fee if he had not filed an offer in July, in which he asked to move out of his multi-million dollar estate by August.
A court hearing on legal fees is currently scheduled for August 2 next month in Santa Barbara.
The former couple initially tied the knot in 2004, with Christine filing for divorce on May 1 after 18 years of marriage. He mentioned that their separation date was April 11, and cited ‘irreconcilable differences’ as the reason for the split.
The divorce filing left Kevin ‘blindsided’ and the star had actually planned to file for divorce first, sources told The Sun last June. He assumed the two were going to split amicably and was following the steps in their prenuptial agreement.
Since the trial began, the divorce has been far from amicable, with Kevin claiming his ex refused to leave the $145 million mansion despite paying $1.45 million for a new residence, Christine alleging the actor is trying to make her and their children ‘homeless’.
Earlier on Monday, Christine spoke out and insisted she has no plans to ‘strip’ their mansion in Santa Barbara before leaving the field – which she has been ordered to do by July 31.
Baumgartner shared in new legal documents that he will show Kevin’s attorneys the photos in a PDF that he plans to move out of the mansion, according to a report by ET.
And that means there shouldn’t be an ’emergency hearing’ on what stuff to take out. Christine said a hearing was ‘unwanted’.
Fees: Earlier this month, according to the documents, Kevin was ordered to pay $200,000 in attorney fees as well as $100,000 in forensic costs and told his ex to pay a third of the total fees; Seen in February
Motions: He claimed the Oscar winner wouldn’t have racked up such a hefty fee if he hadn’t filed a motion to quickly evict him from their $145 million mansion in Santa Barbara; The former couple met in 2014
Also in the filing, it was revealed that Baumgartner rented an ‘off-site’ storage unit to store some silverware, some pots and pans, a Peloton bike, family heirlooms, clothing and personal items of friends. There was also a ‘mother/daughter horse photo’ that she wanted to keep.
And it was added that Costner would ‘not be harmed’ by Baumgartner while moving his items.
Last week, a judge ruled that she must confer with Kevin before taking any property from the estate. He is prohibited from taking art, furniture, furnishings or appliances with him without his express consent.
It was also said that she would be barred from removing any possessions except her clothes, toiletries, handbags and jewelry from the palace.
This comes after the home they previously shared was allegedly ransacked.
Through her attorney, the Yellowstone star has accused her ex of taking her belongings ‘without her knowledge or consent’, which she claims have increased significantly.
The star also claims that Baumgartner paid his own divorce attorney with a credit card that belonged to one of Costner’s employees, according to documents obtained by TMZ.
The latest spat between the former couple came when a judge ordered Costner to pay $129,000 a month in child support, a little more than half of what Baumgartner had requested, but more than double what the actor and director had asked him to pay.
Child support: The latest spat between the former couple comes just days after a judge ruled that Costner must pay $129,000 a month in child support; Seen in 2019
In the document, Costner’s legal team wrote that Baumgartner had shown a disturbing trend in the past few months, both before and after the breakup. [Kevin’s] property without his knowledge or consent, especially since this suit was filed.’
The former couple welcomed three children during their marriage: son Caden, 16, Hayes, 14, and daughter Grace, 13.
One of the more confusing claims in the documents is that Baumgartner paid a criminal defense attorney $25,000 that came from an estate fund Costner set up.
He claims he was unaware of the payments, and that the money should have been used only for real estate transactions, regardless.
‘Blindsided’: The divorce filing left Kevin ‘blindsided’ and the star had originally planned to file for divorce, sources told The Sun last June; Seen in 2013
In the past: The former couple initially tied the knot in 2004, with Christine filing for divorce on May 1 after 18 years of marriage; Seen in 2015
More puzzling, though, is why Baumgartner would want or need a criminal defense attorney in the first place, and the filing doesn’t seem to clear up that question.
The documents allege yet another improper payment, this time to Baumgartner’s divorce attorney Susan Wiesner, which Costner’s team claims was ‘charged to an employee’s credit card traditionally used to charge and pay for the Costner family home. [Kevin].’
They also accused the designer of getting cash advances on multiple credit cards issued by her ex but issued to family workers.
While several of the claims in the filing appear to have been made after Baumgartner filed for divorce from the Dances With Wolves star, Costner’s lawyers also accused him of plotting his divorce by making big purchases.
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