EXCLUSIVE: Kevin Costner’s estranged wife Christine Baumgartner moves belongings to $40k-a-month rental amid bitter divorce… after demanding $885,000 to cover legal fees
Kevin Costner’s estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner, has officially begun moving her personal belongings to her $40k-a-month rental in Santa Barbara on Friday.
The designer, 49, who recently requested an award of $885,000 to cover legal fees, notably filed for divorce from the Yellowstone actor, 68, earlier this year in May — with the date of separation cited as April 11.
The mother of three moved to the new temporary, luxury rental home after she was ordered to vacate their $145 million California compound — and has previously claimed that the new place of residence isn’t good enough for her family.
The spacious house notably sits on one acre of land, and has an assortment of amenities, such as a jacuzzi and is also located next to a wooded hiking trail.
A large truck and movers were seen parked outside of the residence as they started to unload Christine’s furniture and other items.
Moving on: Kevin Costner’s, 68, estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner, 49, has officially begun moving her personal belongings to her $40k-a-month rental in Santa Barbara on Friday; seen in March 2022 in Los Angeles
Divorce battle: The designer notably filed for divorce from the Yellowstone actor, 68, earlier this year in May — with the date of separation cited as April 11
Rental home: A large truck and movers were seen parked outside of the residence as they started to unload Christine’s furniture and other items
Christine had argued in a recent court hearing with her ex, Kevin, also in attendance, that the Oscar winner’s beachfront mansion was far more superior to her own $40k-a-month rental.
While the home has four bedrooms, picturesque gardens, custom designed interiors, a swimming pool and a pool house – she explained that guests would still have to go to the main home ‘to use the shower.’
Baumgartner claimed that in the rental home, her two sons would have to share a bathroom while her daughter will share hers ‘with the house.’
During the course of their nearly 19-year marriage, the Dances With Wolves star and his estranged wife welcomed children: Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13.
She further argued during the court hearing that she wanted her children to have a comparable lifestyle that they had before the separation.
New York based family law expert Brett Ward of the Matrimonial and Family Law Practice Group at Blank Rome told DailyMail.com, ‘Technically, “comparable lifestyle” means what the judge in any case says it means.’
‘But the general concept was put in place to ensure that the children do not experience vastly different lifestyles when with each parent – the big home versus the one-bedroom apartment.’
He continued, ‘The concept was not created to ensure total parity between the living conditions. It is in place to limit the disparity between them. What Christine is saying is that the current order of $129,000 a month is insufficient for her to match Kevin’s lifestyle.’
Court hearing: Christine had argued in a recent court hearing with her ex, Kevin, also in attendance, that the Oscar winner’s beachfront mansion was far more superior to her own $40k-a-month rental
Settling in: The mother of three moved to the new temporary, luxury rental home after she was ordered to vacate their $145 million California compound
Comparable lifestyle: She further argued during the court hearing that she wanted her children to have a comparable lifestyle that they had before the separation
Child support ruling: The designer notably had been temporarily awarded monthly child support of $129k and had requested the number to be raised, however, a judge slashed the monthly amount to $63k-a-month allowance
‘She is doing a direct comparison of what he has versus what she can now afford, and of course is coming up short because he is worth hundreds of millions of dollars.’
The designer notably had been temporarily awarded monthly child support of $129k and had requested the number to be raised. However, a judge slashed the monthly amount to $63k-a-month allowance.
At the time of the ruling, a separate source informed DailyMail.com that, ‘Christine is shocked. She said even Kevin looked shocked. Everyone looked shocked.’
‘To say Christine is disappointed is an understatement. She described the ruling is a complete joke.’
After a two-day hearing in court, the exes took the stand to offer their own sides in regard to what they thought was a ‘reasonable’ amount for child support — as well as their future plans.
During Christine’s time on the stand in a Santa Barbara courthouse, she admitted she had intentions to go back to school and also get a job, per People.
‘I will look into the steps I need to take and any schooling I need to do, and I will enter the workforce,’ she stated while explaining ways she intended to support herself following the couple’s tumultuous split.
Following the child support cut, Christine has now asked for a whopping $885,000 to cover legal fees in the latest update in the former couple’s divorce proceedings.
The workforce: During Christine’s recent time on the stand in a Santa Barbara courthouse, she admitted she had intentions to go back to school and also get a job, per People
Family: During the course of their nearly 19-year marriage, the Dances With Wolves star and his estranged wife welcomed children: Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13
Latest request: Following the child support cut, Christine has now asked for a whopping $885,000 to cover legal fees in the latest update in the former couple’s divorce proceedings; seen in 2019 in Los Angeles
Baumgartner has already received more than $400,000 to pay the costs of her legal battle with the actor, DailyMail.com can reveal.
The mom-of-three is currently locked in a court fight with her ex over a fresh award of $855,000 to cover fees for the former couple’s upcoming trial over whether the prenuptial agreement they signed 18 years ago can still be enforced.
Baumgartner has asked for $575,000 to pay her lawyers John Rydell and Susan Wiesner and another $280,000 for her forensic accountant Jill Bombino – which would take the combined total to an eye-watering total of $1.26million.
But documents obtained by DailyMail.com reveal Baumgartner has so far already received $405,000 in legal, attorney, and ‘forensic accounting fees’ – disbursed in July this year.
In an excoriating legal filing lodged in court in Santa Barbara, California, on Tuesday, Costner’s attorney Laura Wasser hit back at the ‘whopping’ request – describing the fees as ‘inflated’ and saying that it would be ‘unconscionable’ for the Yellowstone star to be made to pay.
‘Disso queen’ Wasser also accused Baumgartner of being ‘unreasonable’ and said her constant legal maneuvers – the majority of which have failed – have inflated costs for both parties.
‘After receiving $405,000 in fees, including an award of $300,000 in legal fees ($200,000 in attorney’s fees and $100,000 in forensic accounting fees) on July 12 and removing $105,000 for fees from Kevin’s accounts, Christine is back requesting another fee award,’ Wasser writes in the filing.
‘This time, she requests a whopping award of $885,000 ($575,000 in attorney’s fees and $280,000 in expert costs) just to prepare for the November/December bifurcated trial on one issue — whether the spousal support waiver in the parties’ Premarital Agreement (‘PMA’) is unconscionable as of today.
‘When the numbers are so large, it is easy to lose perspective of the actual value of these numbers.’
Payment: Last week, Baumgartner found herself on the hook for a payment of $14,000 after Judge Thomas Anderle decided to sanction her for failing to give proper answers to questions from Costner’s legal team; former couple seen in 2003 in Atlanta
The new spat comes less than two weeks after a two-day evidentiary hearing over child support ended with Baumgartner having her payments slashed from $129,000-per-month to $63,000.
Christine also wants to overturn her prenuptial agreement so she can receive alimony – at present, she is entitled to a lump sum of $1.5million and a year’s worth of mortgage payments on a new home worth up to $1million.
Last week, Baumgartner found herself on the hook for a payment of $14,000 after Judge Thomas Anderle decided to sanction her for failing to give proper answers to questions from Costner’s legal team.
Judge Anderle has also agreed to postpone the decision on the legal costs until September 20 when a full hearing on the issue is scheduled.
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