Kevin Costner and Christine Costner had a child support hearing as part of their controversial divorce. (Photo: FilmMagic)
Kevin Costner isn’t having the best day. Hours after the Yellowstone star was noticeably absent from this year’s Emmy nominees list, it was decided that he will pay his estranged wife Christine over $129,000 a month in child support. The judge in their divorce case made his ruling official, Yahoo Entertainment confirmed during a hearing on Wednesday afternoon. The princely sum is less than the nearly $250,000 a month the former handbag designer was aiming for, but more than what the actor wanted to pay.
What’s next?
A hearing will be held to determine how much maintenance Christine (née Baumgartner) actually needs to look after her and Kevin’s three children – Cayden, 16, Logan, 14, and Grace, 13. According to a source in the courtroom, Kevin’s team said they need two days to prove what is financially necessary, while Christine’s attorney said they need four days. The judge doesn’t have room on his calendar for a hearing of this length this year, so a date has yet to be set.
A hearing on attorney fees is scheduled for August 3. According to documents obtained by Yahoo, Kevin wants to recover $99,225 that he incurred in enforcing the pre-contract agreement that forced Christine to move out of the home. Last week, a judge joined the actor in demanding that Christine vacate her beachfront property in Santa Barbara, California, because the prenup she signed in 2004 clearly stated that she would vacate the property within 30 days of filing for divorce would leave. Christine filed a lawsuit on May 1, but her lawyers tried to argue that she didn’t have the funds to secure a new home in the expensive area.
Christine’s $129,000 figure is not guaranteed
Yahoo’s source points out that the judge has reserved the power to retrospectively reduce child support if he later finds the amount exceeded what is necessary. Christine is entitled to a monthly amount that allows the children in her care to have the same standard of living as their famous father. But if the judge finds that $129,000 is excessive, Christine will have to pay back the excess amount to Kevin.
The story goes on
“The amount of child support is obscene, but the court had to use a formula to determine child support based on Kevin’s income until it had time to hold a hearing on the children’s actual needs. Because Kevin’s income is about $2 million a year.” Month, the policy formula has garnered tremendous support,” celebrity divorce attorney Chris Melcher told Yahoo.
It is in Christine’s interest to slow down the gameplay
Kevin is only obligated to pay child support until the kids are 18 – which is probably why Christine is trying to squeeze as much money out of the actor as possible by challenging the spousal support limit set in her prenup.
“Per her prenuptial agreement, Christine agreed to accept $1 million in lieu of spousal support in the event of a separation. Kevin sent her the check but she refuses to cash it,” Melcher notes.
“It’s a dangerous game for Christine to challenge the prenuptial agreement because she will be responsible for Kevin’s legal fees if she loses,” he continues. “If Kevin prevails and the attorney’s fees are awarded, it could offset the millions of dollars she’s getting under the prenup — potentially leaving her with nothing.”
Can Kevin and Christine still settle out of court?
The past two months have been chaotic, no doubt about that, and there are no signs that the two sides will come to an agreement.
“The time for a settlement was before Christine went to court. By stating her allegations in public court documents, she was deprived of leverage to reach a silent settlement,” the veteran attorney shared. “Christine overplayed her hand by taking such an aggressive position. She has to come to the table and make a deal.”