Tag: Christine Baumgartner

Now that the dust has settled on the “contentious” and “acrimonious” battle over how much Kevin Costner should pay his estranged wife in child support, the judge is explaining why he sided with the actor and not Christine Baumgartner.

According to court documents obtained by ET, Santa Barbara County Judge Thomas P. Anderle on Tuesday released a 17-page summary of the child support case and the reasons behind his conclusions that ultimately gave the Yellowstone star a huge victory, after the court ordered his monthly child support payments be drastically reduced — from $129,000 per month to $63,209. Costner and Baumgartner share three children — sons Cayden, 16, and Hayes, 14, and daughter Grace, 13. Baumgartner filed for divorce in May after 18 years of marriage.

During a two-day hearing last week — which the judge referred to as “contentious; acrimonious at times” — Baumgartner testified as to why the monthly child support figure should be increased to $161,000 per month, explaining it was important for the children to have a “comparable lifestyle” to the one they enjoyed when she and Costner were still a couple. In her effort to persuade the court to grant her request, Baumgartner hired a forensic accountant who testified that Costner’s total cash flow of $1.5 million per month — which included Costner’s Yellowstone income — justifies the amount she’s requesting. But the judge disagreed, concluding that, in doing so, “it shows the application of the formula would be unjust and inappropriate in this case.”

In his opinion, the judge said he “liked this witness [the forensic accountant] and found her courtroom demeanor good.” The judge added, “[S]he is a competent expert in these matters” but “her testimony gave me pause.” As for Baumgartner’s testimony, the judge also found her “credible” and to have “good courtroom demeanor.” The judge also said that while he “did not perceive there was any intention by her to mislead the Court … her testimony was not much help on the issue before the bench today.”

Costner’s forensic accountant also testified and argued why Costner’s Yellowstone salary should not be factored into determining how much he should pay in child support. As ET previously reported, Costner argued that his Yellowstone salary — reportedly over $1 million per episode — was a “complete aberration, and provided Kevin with an unusually high level of income — a level he has never had in the past.” In May, ET exclusively reported that Costner would not be returning to Yellowstone due to disagreements over his filming schedule.

In court documents, Costner’s accountants stated his average cash flow for the 30 months ending June 30, 2023 — including his Yellowstone income — was $1,308,920 per month. Without the Yellowstone income, Costner’s accountants concluded Costner’s monthly cash flow for the 30 months ending June 30, 2023, was $468,136 per month.

The judge found Costner’s forensic accountant “presented well” and to be “very capable.” After hearing Costner’s forensic accountant explain why the Yellowstone salary should not be factored in determining how much Costner should pay in child support, the judge concluded Costner’s “theory of the case preponderates,” or exceedingly convincing.

The judge added, “The court did not find Christine’s theory of the case intellectually dishonest; but it was not persuasive; it did not preponderate.” Baumgartner has since moved into a 4-bedroom home in Montecito, California.

In conclusion, the court ordered Costner to pay $63,209 per month in child support. The payments to Baumgartner commenced on Friday. Costner’s also responsible for “all the children’s health insurance costs and unreimbursed health care expenses (including medical, dental, therapeutic and orthodontic); all private school tuition and related costs; all the minor children’s extracurricular expenses, hunting club dues, and Cayden’s car and expenses related to it.”

There’s still the issue of who will have to pay for Baumgartner’s attorney fees and costs, a matter that will be settled at a later date. As for when the estranged couple can finally put this divorce behind them, the court estimates “the completion of the case [is] now anticipated for December 2023.”

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Kevin Costner‘s estranged wife has denied that a mutual friend is her boyfriend, a notion she refuted on the stand Thursday after the actor made the claim in his most recent court filing.

Christine Baumgartner appeared in a Santa Barbara County courtroom Thursday and testified that the former couple’s mutual friend, Josh Connor, is not her boyfriend. Though Costner never mentioned Connor by name in legal documents he filed Wednesday, the actor insinuated as much when he claimed that “her boyfriend recently gave her $20,000.”

While emotional at times on the stand at a hearing to determine what Costner should pay in child support for their three children, Baumgartner was asked about her and Connor’s July vacation in Hawaii. She was also asked if Connor was her boyfriend and she answered affirmatively, “No.”

Baumgartner, however, did concede — while wiping away tears — that Connor gave her $20,000. Baumgartner also testified that she gave half to her mother. When asked why she was being emotional, Baumgartner shared she was concerned about her mother’s wellbeing. She also stated that, during the marriage, Costner gave her mother $5,000 monthly, which she said her mother is no longer receiving.

As far as new housing for her and the kids — after she was ordered to move out of Costner’s beach club estate last month — Baumgartner said she was only able to do so after her brother forked over the $80,000 deposit she needed for a rental property in nearby Montecito. Baumgartner also said she paid him back and she’s since signed a 6-month lease for $40,000.

During her testimony, Costner noticeably pressed the bridge of his nose. Earlier in the hearing, an eyewitness told ET that the “Yellowstone” star seemed “irritated when Christine’s attorney said that he should pay for both attorney fees.” The eyewitness said Costner shook his head.

Under cross-examination, Baumgartner revealed that the $20,000 Connor gave her was in cash. As for why he gave her the money, she testified that she had no access to money. She also clarified that it wasn’t a gift and she planned on paying him back. Costner’s attorney also questioned her as to why she went to Hawaii in July after she was awarded $129,000 in child support if she was so concerned about her finances. Baumgartner responded she was more concerned about her mother’s anxiety. She also testified Connor paid for the trip to Hawaii.

Baumgartner also explained why she needed her brother to put up the deposit money on the Montecito property, testifying that Costner was supposed to deposit money in her account, but she “panicked” when he didn’t. When asked how she’ll generate income moving forward, Baumgartner said she might look into teaching or working with kids.

This is the first of two child support hearings between the former couple, who share sons Cayden, 16, and Hayes, 14, and daughter Grace, 13. The court has temporarily ordered Costner to pay her $129,000 per month (he initially wanted to pay $51,900), and she recently went to court requesting that the amount be increased to $161,000 per month (she initially wanted $248,000 per month). Baumgartner filed for divorce in May after 18 years of marriage.

In court documents filed Wednesday and obtained by ET, Costner called Baumgartner’s claim that he “steadfastly refuses” to pay child support sufficient to meet the children’s reasonable needs as “demonstrably false and purposely inflammatory.” Costner then insisted that he and Baumgartner “simply differ on what ‘reasonable needs’ means in the context of child support.” Costner also didn’t mince words when describing her “baseless character attacks” on him.

“Christine’s relentless ‘jihad’ against Kevin’s character adds a level of animosity to this proceeding that is wholly unnecessary,” the court documents state.

Costner has proposed paying Baumgartner $63,209 per month in child support, and he’s adamant that the monthly figure fully meets the reasonable needs of their children. He implored the court that any child support “greater than that amount is simply disguised spousal support.”

The hearing is set to resume Friday.

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Kevin Costner’s Estranged Wife Christine Tears Up on the Stand During Child Custody Hearing Appearance

Kevin Costner Accuses Estranged Wife Christine Baumgartner of ‘Game Playing’ Amid Divorce

Kevin Costner Denies Having Extramarital Affair, Estranged Wife Claims He’s Being ‘Evasive’ About Finances