Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner’s very bitter divorce has met a stunning finish as the 2 sides have settled with the prenup enforced and a large financial penalty whether it is challenged.
The 68-year-old actor and his 49-year-old spouse of almost 20 years have been embroiled in a months-long authorized warfare which has met a shock finish after DailyMail.com reported that Baumgartner had acquired greater than $400,000 to pay the prices of the contentious courtroom battle.
In accordance with TMZ, if Christine challenges the judgment ‘she must repay Kevin greater than $1 million and pay his legal professional’s charges for the prenup combat.’
Upon listening to this, the mother-of-three ‘agreed over the weekend to the phrases of a 3-page settlement letter.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Costner.
Kevin’s authorized workforce – which was headed by ‘disso queen’ Laura Wasser – had received a collection of authorized battles main as much as the settlement.
It is over! Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner ‘s very bitter divorce has met a stunning finish as the 2 sides have settled with the prenup enforced in response to TMZ; the previous couple are seen in 2206
Kevin seemingly responded to the settlement being signed over the weekend as he shared a throwback picture of himself trying into the space with the caption: ‘Pleased Monday, pals. Wishing well being and happiness for all of you’
Wasser had lately submitted paperwork to the court docket saying Kevin’s month-to-month obligation needs to be $63K-a-month in response to the publication.
Nevertheless, Baumgartner needed $248K-a-month and after a two-day evidentiary listening to in Santa Barbara earlier this month the Choose Thomas Anderle finally sided with Kevin.
Kevin seemingly responded to the settlement being signed over the weekend as he shared a throwback picture of himself trying into the space with the caption: ‘Pleased Monday, pals. Wishing well being and happiness for all of you.’
Final week DailyMail.com reported that Baumgartner had already acquired greater than $400,000 to pay the prices of her authorized battle with the actor.
The mom-of-three was locked in a court docket combat together with her ex over a contemporary award of $855,000 to cowl charges for the previous couple’s upcoming trial over whether or not the prenuptial settlement they signed 18 years in the past can nonetheless be enforced.
Baumgartner, 49, had requested for $575,000 to pay her attorneys John Rydell and Susan Wiesner and one other $280,000 for her forensic accountant Jill Bombino – which might take the mixed whole to an eye-watering whole of $1.26million.
However paperwork obtained by DailyMail.com reveal Baumgartner has thus far already acquired $405,000 in authorized, legal professional, and ‘forensic accounting charges’ – disbursed in July this 12 months.
In an excoriating authorized submitting lodged in court docket in Santa Barbara, California, on Tuesday, Wasser hit again on the ‘whopping’ request – describing the charges as ‘inflated’ and saying that it could be ‘unconscionable’ for the Yellowstone star to be made to pay.
‘Disso queen’ Wasser additionally accused Baumgartner of being ‘unreasonable’ and mentioned her fixed authorized maneuvers – the vast majority of which have failed – had inflated prices for each events.
Courtroom filings obtained by DailyMail.com revealed final week Baumgartner – pictured final month – has thus far already acquired $405,000 in authorized, legal professional, and ‘forensic accounting charges’
Estranged husband Kevin Costner’s legal professional Laura Wasser – seen arriving at court docket with the actor earlier this month – hit again on the request – describing the charges as ‘inflated’ and ‘outrageous’
Baumgartner, 49, hoped to void the spousal help part of their prenuptial settlement at trial in November so she might be awarded alimony
Final week, Baumgartner discovered herself on the hook for a cost of $14,000 after Choose Thomas Anderle determined to sanction her for failing to present correct solutions to questions from Costner’s authorized workforce.
The setback got here shortly after Choose Anderle halved Baumgartner’s month-to-month little one help funds – a call she later described as a ‘joke’ in response to a pal.
The good friend informed DailyMail.com: ‘Christine is shocked. She mentioned even Kevin seemed shocked. Everybody seemed shocked.
‘To say Christine is dissatisfied is an understatement. She described the ruling is a whole joke.’
Talking to DailyMail.com, Brett Ward, a companion at New York authorized agency Clean Rome and an knowledgeable in household legislation, mentioned a celebration requesting charges is not uncommon, though the potential measurement of the award was.
He additionally mentioned judges are likely to take a dim view of what they see as extreme requests and usually need to stop drawn out circumstances just like the Costner divorce was turning into.
He mentioned: ‘There’s definitely a authorized foundation for [Baumgartner’s] request. Nevertheless, a choose will study the reasonableness of the charges requested.
‘Judges usually don’t need to encourage further litigation by offering one facet with a warfare chest of future authorized charges.
In an excoriating authorized submitting lodged in court docket in Santa Barbara, California , on Tuesday, Costner’s legal professional Laura Wasser hit again on the ‘whopping’ request
Authorized woes: Final week, Baumgartner discovered herself on the hook for a cost of $14,000 after Choose Thomas Anderle determined to sanction her for failing to present correct solutions to questions from Costner’s authorized workforce; seen in 2015
‘Courts usually stability the much less rich get together’s proper to hold on the litigation in a good method towards the priority {that a} get together with a major price award will take that cash and use it to make each doable argument accessible, irrespective of the advantage or lack thereof for every declare.’
Ward mentioned the large authorized payments the pair have been racking up have been uncommon in household court docket however added that a lot of the cash might be defined by the worth of the belongings being wrangled over and anticipated the eventual tab to be a lot greater.
He mentioned: ‘At this tempo, and and not using a settlement within the close to future, I might not be shocked if the mixed authorized charges method or exceed $5 million.’
A lot of Baumgartner’s testimony through the evidentiary listening to had hinged on her with the ability to present a lavish way of life for her three kids corresponding to the one they get pleasure from whereas with their father.
Regardless of renting a $40,000-a-month property in tony Montecito, Baumgartner mentioned her new dwelling is insufficient as a result of sons Cayden, 16, and Hayes, 14, must share a rest room whereas daughter Grace, 13, would want ‘to share hers with the home.’
The mom-of-three had been having fun with a brief month-to-month cost of $129,000 and had needed it bumped to $161,000
DailyMail.com beforehand revealed that Baumgartner, 49, moved into the luxurious four-bedroom dwelling on Friday – after a choose in Santa Barbara, California, slashed her little one help funds
In July Baumgartner was court-ordered to vacate the previous couple’s $145million lavish California mansion
She additionally bemoaned the pool home visitor lodging – saying guests would want to come back into the principle home to bathe – and hit out on the lack of seaside entry to which her kids are accustomed.
In his testimony, Costner mentioned the property was corresponding to his personal luxurious dwelling in close by Carpinteria and mentioned it even has options he would really like in his personal home.
In accordance with the mom-of-three’s good friend, her objections additionally embody her being ‘eliminated’ from the neighborhood she had loved whereas dwelling with Costner.
The good friend added: ‘Christine mentioned they [Costner and his legal team] painted the image of this shallow, grasping gold-digger and that if Kevin may get previous his anger and revenge, he would see how that is hurting their children.
‘She mentioned Kevin is ripping her aside from her neighborhood by making it unimaginable to reside within the tight-knit neighborhood. ‘Christine mentioned this was by no means about seaside views and Kevin is aware of this. He is aware of how a lot the neighborhood means to Christine, and that that is his approach of punishing her.
Estranged spouse: Weird: Regardless of renting a $40,000-a-month property in tony Montecito, Baumgartner mentioned her new dwelling is insufficient as a result of sons Cayden, 16, and Hayes, 14, must share a rest room whereas daughter Grace, 13, would want ‘to share hers with the home’ (seen in August 2023)
Bitter: She additionally bemoaned the pool home visitor lodging – saying guests would want to come back into the principle home to bathe – and hit out on the lack of seaside entry to which her kids are accustomed; pictured in 2014
‘Christine mentioned the combat is much from over.’
The court docket additionally heard particulars of the household’s lavish spending – which totaled $240,000-a-month in 2022.
Bills included $40,000 spent every month on flowers and presents alone, though Costner’s forensic accountant Tracy Katz identified the determine is for your entire household, together with Baumgartner.
Katz mentioned the 49-year-old was answerable for a bunch of big-ticket objects, together with $18,000-a-month on medical payments, $18,855 on clothes and $3,377 on magnificence therapies.
In his testimony, Costner mentioned the property was corresponding to his personal luxurious dwelling in close by Carpinteria and mentioned it even has options he would really like in his personal home (seen in 2015)
On prime of that, Baumgartner was answerable for the lion’s share of the $8,886 in money taken out at ATM machines in response to Katz.
In Could 2023, Baumgartner filed for divorce from the Yellowstone star after 18 years of marriage and three kids collectively because of ‘irreconcilable variations.’
‘It’s with nice disappointment that circumstances past his management have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to take part in a dissolution of marriage motion,’ Costner’s rep mentioned in a press release, on the time.
‘We ask that his, Christine’s and their kids’s privateness be revered as they navigate this troublesome time,’ the assertion concluded.
Costner was beforehand married to Cindy Silva from 1978 to 1994 and so they share three kids – Annie, 39, Lily, 36, and Joe, 35.
He additionally shares a son Liam Costner with Bridget Rooney, who he dated after his cut up with Silva.
Main age hole: In court docket paperwork obtained solely by DailyMail.com over the summer time, Baumgartner described how she was immediately wowed when she first met ‘the good-looking, charming film star’ when she was simply 18 and he was 37 (seen in 2014)
In court docket paperwork obtained solely by DailyMail.com over the summer time, Baumgartner described how she was immediately wowed when she first met ‘the good-looking, charming film star’ when she was simply 18 and he was 37.
Baumgartner recalled the magic second they met in 1992 in help of her bid for extra little one help for the couple’s three youngsters.
Baumgartner wrote: ‘I met Kevin on the golf course on the Alisal Ranch (an unique “dude” ranch in Solvang, California) once I was eighteen years previous,’ she wrote in papers filed in Santa Barbara Superior Courtroom, California.
‘We performed our first sport of golf six years later and began courting shortly thereafter.
‘Kevin was good-looking, charming and a film star. We traveled the world in personal planes, stayed in luxurious inns and personal houses.’
She additionally mentioned she was the driving drive for the Subject of Goals star to comprehend his personal desires, writing: ‘Throughout our marriage, I inspired Kevin to put on many hats and reside his desires, even when that meant spending time away from our household.
‘I inspired him to reconnect along with his former bandmates from school and to start out a brand new band. He grew to become a singer/songwriter and toured for weeks at a time in lots of international locations. He grew to become an investor in a number of corporations, a few of which have been via my connections.’
She added: ‘Regardless of all of Kevin’s commitments, I made certain to at all times hold him and the kids related as a lot as doable. I by no means questioned the time or dedication it took for him to do what he liked.’