Contentious Divorce Comes to an End
After a challenging divorce process that began with Christine Baumgartner filing for divorce on May 1 after 18 years of marriage to actor Kevin Costner, the former couple has finally reached a divorce settlement.
Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner, who were married for nearly two decades, have resolved their divorce in an amicable and mutually agreed-upon manner, according to a joint statement from their representative. The Yellowstone star and Baumgartner had been entangled in a contentious divorce since she filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences and listing April 11 as the date of separation.
Baumgartner’s decision to file for divorce came as a surprise, as it occurred less than three months after Costner celebrated his Golden Globe win for Best Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Yellowstone at a watch party hosted by his wife. Despite this, the divorce proceedings became highly contentious, with arguments over child support, the validity of the prenuptial agreement, and attorney’s fees.
Child Support Dispute
The divorce case included a dispute over child support, with Baumgartner initially requesting $248,000 per month based on Costner’s 2022 income. Costner strongly opposed this figure, arguing that it was inflated and grossly inaccurate. Ultimately, the judge ordered Costner’s monthly child support payments to be reduced significantly from $128,000 to $63,209.
Another point of contention was the prenuptial agreement between Costner and Baumgartner. She claimed that she did not fully understand the agreement when she signed it. Costner countered that the agreement was valid and enforceable. The judge ruled in favor of Costner, stating that Baumgartner’s theory was not persuasive and that factoring in Costner’s Yellowstone salary for child support calculations would be unjust.
Attorney’s Fees and Forensic Accounting
The divorce proceedings also involved disputes over attorney’s fees and forensic accounting costs. Baumgartner requested nearly $1 million to cover her attorney’s fees and expert costs, a request that Costner criticized as outrageous and nonsensical. He argued that there was no evidence to support such high fees and that much of the necessary work had already been completed.
The divorce between Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner was marked by a series of legal disputes and contentious moments in court. Despite the challenges, the former couple has now reached a settlement, bringing their divorce to a close.