Santa Barbara judge on Tuesday delivered an interim ruling regarding child support in the high-profile split of Kevin Costner and his estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner.
According to court documents viewed by Fox News Digital, Judge Thomas Anderle determined that Baumgartner will receive half of her initial requested $250,000 monthly child support.
Specifically, the judge decreed that Costner is obliged to provide $129,755 monthly in child support.
He is also obligated to foot $200,000 in attorney’s fees and an additional $100,000 for forensic costs.
Both Costner and Baumgartner have been ordered to share the financial burden of their three children’s health care expenses and fees associated with sports and extracurricular activities evenly.
The “Field of Dreams” star will remit these payments at the start of each month, receiving credit for sums paid between July 1 and July 12, per court documents.
Baumgartner first sought legal separation from Costner on May 1, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
She initially called for $248,000 per month in child support or, alternatively, $217,300 as per the guideline rate, paid on the first of each month.
Her request for Costner to handle all expenses related to their children’s private school education, health care costs, and extracurricular activities was not granted.
The court documents also revealed that her request for automatic transfer payments was denied.
Last week, Baumgartner pleaded with the court to enforce a guideline child support order after she was directed to leave their $145 million Santa Barbara estate by month’s end.
Both Costner and Baumgartner have sought joint custody of their three children: Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13. Married for 18 years, the couple’s divorce proceedings have shone a light on Costner’s financial stature.
Baumgartner’s forensic accountant’s report exhibited Costner’s 2022 gross cash flow as a remarkable $24,518,887 or $2,043,241 per month.
While Baumgartner criticized Costner’s initial proposed support of $51,940 per month as “inappropriate” and “24% of guideline,” amounting to only 2.4% of his 2022 cash flow, the judge’s ruling still came up short of her original demands.
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The ongoing litigation underscores the complexities of maintaining an equitable standard of living post-divorce in high-profile cases.
Celebrity lawyer Christopher C. Melcher, a partner at Walzer, Melcher & Yoda, commented that the ruling, while appearing generous, is actually “another defeat for Christine.” Melcher noted, “No one should be complaining about getting $129,755 per month in child support.”
Costner, meanwhile, has denied allegations of “kicking” their children out of the house. He insists the children will remain at home “during the time they are in my custody.”
Despite the high stakes and public scrutiny, the law seeks to ensure that child support is allocated in a way that allows the children to maintain their lifestyle.
A hearing for the custody case has been scheduled for July 12.
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