Kevin Costner has recently been embroiled in a lengthy and potentially costly legal battle with his estranged spouse, Christine Baumgartner. In the court filings, Baumgartner was requesting an increase in the already lofty child support payments that Costner gives to her on a monthly basis.
The two are in the process of settling a divorce after 18 years of marriage. The two share three children: 16 year old Cayden, 14 year old Hayes, and 13 year old daughter Grace.
Reports coming from the divorce court claim that Baumgartner was seen crying during the hearing as she detailed the high-class and high-dollar lifestyle that she was living while she was still Mrs. Costner. According to Breitbart News, she even had forty tons of real snow shipped to their California home to celebrate Christmas.
That expensive lifestyle has led to her and her lawyers requisition a massive increase in monthly child support payments, a case which she just recently lost to the “Yellowstone” star. Her lawyer said, “The child support that Christine is requesting may seem large, but her request is in accord with California statutory and case law. This is precisely the type of case that demands an upward deviation so that the children will at least approach the standard of living of their father.”
The divorce was announced a few months ago, with The American Tribune reporting on reports from a Costner family spokesperson in early May. He said, “It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action. We ask that his, Christine’s and their children’s privacy be respected as they navigate this difficult time.”
Costner has been nothing but cordial when speaking about his estranged wife, complimenting her parenting efforts, and speaking about how he is making an effort to effectively co-parent alongside her. He also has steered clear of commenting too much on the divorce while the legal proceedings are ongoing.
Costner was recently a hot topic in entertainment news as rumors of quarrels between the lead of “Yellowstone” and the producers at Paramount Studios spread across the web. Multiple sources indicated that Costner’s disinterest and lack of availability would lead to an early end for the hit western drama and that his inflexibility with filming dates was making it a struggle even to conclude shooting the final season.
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Fans are patiently awaiting the release of “Yellowstone,” and with its final part being released this November, many are already mourning the loss of new episodes about the modern Dutton family. Paramount appears set to dive into more spinoff series, like 1883 and 1923, as it looks to continue to build on the massive success of the “Yellowstone” franchise.
For Costner, this seems like a point where many things are changing in his life. “Yellowstone” may very well become the greatest achievement in his career, but with that ending and an 18-year marriage coming to a close, the actor is looking forward to new opportunities on the horizon.