Kevin Costner's Estranged Wife Suffers Major Loss in Divorce Battle

Costner's estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner, has been ordered to pay his attorney fees.

By Stephen Andrew

Kevin Costner's estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner, has suffered a major loss in their divorce battle. Fox News reports that Judge Thomas Anderle has ordered Baumgartner to pay Costner's attorney fees. The ruling was handed down on Wednesday, after Baumgartner, 49, had requested that Costner, 68, pay nearly $9,000 in attorney fees. Anderle said in court, "I spent a lot of time trying to capture exactly what it is you didn't have."

According to legal documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Costner previously requested for the court to have Baumgartner pay more than $14,000 in "reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred" after she "refused in bad faith" to answer questions — approved by the judge — that his legal team sent to her. Baumgartner is now expected to submit her answers, and pay the $14,000 by Sept. 22. Notably, while he did order Baumgartner to Costner's lawyer fees, the judge did deny other parts of Costner's request.

Costner and Baumgartner were married for 18 years, having tied the knot in September 2004. Baumgartner filed for divorce from Costner earlier this summer, citing irreconcilable differences and listing the date of separation as April 11. She also requested joint custody of their three teenage children: Cayden, Hayes and Grace. In his legal response, Costner also cited irreconcilable differences, as well as asked for joint custody of their kids. It was previously noted that Costner's filing mentioned a prenup, which is apparently referenced due to potential issues of spousal support, properties and legal fees.

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During another recent hearing, the court reduced Costner's child-support payments from $129,000 to $63,209, though Baumgartner had been fighting for an increase. The change seems to be due to Costner explaining that income from his Paramount Network series, Yellowstone, should not be included in the child support since he is done with the show. Additionally, Baumgartner moved into a new rental home in Montecito, California over the weekend, according to The Daily Mail. The Santa Barbara County rental property costs $40,000 per month, but Baumgartner is apparently not happy about it. Baumgartner reportedly testified that the rental property is not sufficient to provide her children the living arrangements — or "comparable lifestyle" — they are used to at Costner's home.

In addition to battling over living situations and child support, Costner and Baumgartner have also been at odds over rumors she has a new boyfriend already. TMZ previously reported that Costner referred to Baumgarnter's legal case as a "relentless jihad," and added that he believes her "boyfriend" — whom sources say he believes to be old family friend Josh Connor — gave her thousands of dollars. However, both Baumgartner and Connor have denied that they are in a relationship.

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