Kevin Costner Vs. Christine Baumgartner: Who Will Pay The Legal Bills?

The divorce drama between Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner continues to take different forms in the headlines!

In a surprising twist amidst the legal battle between the Hollywood icon and his estranged wife, a new development has emerged. The entrepreneur will pay a sum out of her ex-husband's divorce attorney fees after the judge ruled in his favor. 

In a pivotal ruling, Judge Thomas Anderle ruled on Wednesday that the 49-year-old will be responsible for covering over $14,000 of the three-time Golden Globe Awards winner's legal fees.

These costs, he argued, were incurred while seeking clarity on her interpretation of their prenuptial agreement, marking a crucial turn in their contentious divorce battle. PEOPLE reported that Judge Anderle underscored the significance of this decision, deeming it a "case of consequence."

Last month, in a request for order submitted to the California Superior Court and obtained by the outlet, the 68-year-old's attorneys urged the court to compel Baumgartner to address their inquiries.

They claimed that she has been reluctant to disclose her full stance on the validity of the prenuptial agreement (PMA). According to the documents they filed:

"The objections she has mustered in an effort to not disclose her contentions are frivolous. She says she does not understand words like 'understood' or 'negotiation,' so she cannot answer this discovery."

It also outlined legal fees of $14,237.50, asserting that the discovery process should not be treated as a game. It stated that the "Yellowstone" actor "should never have been required to spend money to file a motion."

As per the prenuptial agreement's provisions, the handbag designer was granted a $1.5 million payout. Contesting it may put her payout at risk and potentially lead to her covering more of Costner's legal costs.

The recent judgment in favor of the award-winning actor comes after The Blast reported in July that he pressed for his former partner to bear the weight of his considerable $99,225 legal expenses for contesting the agreement. 

The prenup included a provision explicitly stating, "the prevailing party … shall be entitled … to be reimbursed by the non-prevailing party for all costs and expenses incurred thereby."

In his filing, the "Bull Durham" star "respectfully reminded" the court about the $1.5 million he had allocated in a bank account for Baumgartner in accordance with their agreement. Despite this provision, she noted her reservations about accessing these funds, concerned it might influence her legal standing in their divorce proceedings.

In the midst of their divorce, the model contended that the previously determined child support was not sufficient. Although they agreed on joint custody of their three teenage children: Cayden, Hayes, and Grace — the battle continued over the appropriate amount of financial support the children's mother should receive.

Before their August 31 hearing, the mother-of-three petitioned the court to compel the Primetime Emmy Award winner to provide nearly $200,000 in monthly child support, a substantial increase of $46,000 from the original agreement. 

The "Hidden Figures" actor's ex-wife was seeking a considerable sum until their children reached the age of 18. According to a brief written by her legal team: "The Court is required to set child support at a level that, when the children are with Christine, they live a lifestyle relatively comparable to the one they enjoy when they are with their father." 

Baumgartner's legal team also argued that the children should reside in a similarly substantial residence to Costner's when in their mother's care. They emphasized that the budding adults have access to "comparable vacations," which may involve private air travel, while with her.

Her attorneys further argued that since the kids experienced luxurious vacations with their father, traveling on private aircraft, the Family Code mandates that "The Bodyguard" star should provide ample child support to ensure they can have similarly lavish vacations with their mother. 

The lawyers clarified, "In this case, the guideline child support requested by Christine of $175,057 per month will not be sufficient to replicate Kevin's lifestyle, but it will be sufficient to allow her to provide a lifestyle for the children that is relatively comparable."