Kevin Costner; Christine Costner.Photo:Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Kevin Costneris contesting his estranged wifeChristine’s request that he pay a “whopping” $885,000 toward her legal fees.
The filing claims Christine has already received “$405,000 in fees, including an award of $300,000 in legal fees ($200,000 in attorney’s fees and $100,000 in forensic accounting fees) on July 12” and “remov(ed) $105,000 for fees from Kevin’s accounts.”
According to Kevin’s filing, “the Family Code requires the Court to assess whether the fees incurred and prospective fees are reasonably necessary.”
“Although Kevin is thewealthier party with a higher cash flowthan Christine, Christine is quite capable of contributing to her own attorneys’ fees,” the document states.
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Kevin and Christine Costner on Nov. 8, 2014, in Hollywood, California.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
“The amount Kevin has incurred cannot be the talisman of how much Christine should be awarded in fees,” the document reads.
It also alleges theYellowstoneactor “has been forced to spend substantial attorney’s fees as a result of Christine’s uncooperative conduct,” noting that Kevin “has had to repeatedly go to court to (successfully) obtain relief.”
An attorney for Christine did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Christine Costner; Kevin Costner.David Fisher/Shutterstock, Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
David Fisher/Shutterstock, Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Last week, Judge Thomas Anderle ruled Christine mustcover over $14,000 of Kevin’s legal coststhat he said he accrued while trying to obtain answers about her understanding of their prenuptial agreement (PMA).
During the ruling, Judge Anderle emphasized that this is “certainly a case of consequence.”
In a request for order filed in California Superior Court last month, attorneys for Kevin asked the court tocompel Christine to respond to their questions, claiming she “refuses to make known all of her contentions regarding the validity of the PMA.”
The filing specified the legal fees totaled $14,237.50, further stating, “Discovery is not a game of chicken. Kevin should never have been required to spend money to file a motion.”
Christine and Kevin Costner in Los Angeles on April 5, 2022.Lester Cohen/Getty
Lester Cohen/Getty
Christinefiled for divorcefrom Kevin in May after 18 years of marriage. Theyshare three children: Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13.
A rep for the actor said in a statement at the time of Christine’s divorce filing, “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.”
During a two-day Santa Barbaracourt case determining child supportin late August, a judge set the monthly payments Kevin will pay to Christine at $63,209, matching his proposed amount after she and her lawyers hadrequested $175,057, up from the $129,755 the actor had been tentatively ordered to pay.
After Christine’s attorney John Rydell said the oceanside lifestyle their three children have enjoyed at theirSanta Barbara compoundis “in their DNA at this point,” Kevin took the stand, where he said, “My biggest concern is that the court orders me to pay child support that is above the needs of my children and for the needs of Christine.”
The former couple willappear in court againin December to hash out the validity of their premarital agreement.
source: people.com
