Kevin Costner’s estranged wife Christine has been ordered to pay a portion of the actor’s divorce attorney fees, totaling $14,237.50.
The latest development in their contentious divorce battle resulted in Judge Thomas Anderle’s ruling Wednesday that Christine, 49, must cover more than $14,000 in Kevin’s legal fees, which she says he racked up while trying to get answers about her understanding of their prenuptial agreement.
Judge Anderle emphasized during the sentencing that this was “certainly a consequence”.
In a writ petition filed with the California Supreme Court and obtained by PEOPLE last month, attorneys for Kevin, 68, asked the court to compel Christine to answer their questions, arguing that she “refuses to address all of her claims regarding the validity PMA.”
The documents he submitted Yellowstone the star’s lawyers continued: “The objections she has raised in an attempt to keep her claims out of the picture are frivolous. He says he doesn’t understand words like ‘understood’ or ‘negotiated’, so he can’t respond to this revelation.”
The document states that the legal fees total $14,237.50, with the further statement: “Discovery is not a game of chicken. Kevin should never have been asked to spend money to file a claim.”
Under the terms of the prenuptial agreement, Christine received a $1.5 million settlement. If she challenges it, she risks losing the payout and could be ordered to pay more than Kevin’s legal fees. In July, her lawyers argued that “this court has not found the parties’ prenuptial agreement to be enforceable.”
They further called out Kevin’s demand that Christine pay that amount: “Kevin claims that he should not have to pay the fees and costs for Christine to challenge the validity of the PMA. He also regularly claims that the PMA is valid and that there is no evidence to the contrary. This is legal the equivalent of whistling by the graveyard.”
Kevin Costner accused his ex of waging a ‘relentless jihad’ against him ahead of the alimony settlement
Kevin Costner and Christine.
Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
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Married since 2004, the exes have three children: Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13.
During a two-day alimony hearing in Santa Barbara last week, the judge set the monthly payments Kevin will pay Christine at $63,209, matching his proposed amount after she and her lawyers asked for $175,057, down from $129,755 the actor received. he was conditionally ordered to pay in July.
After Christina’s attorney John Rydell said the oceanfront lifestyle their three children enjoyed at their Santa Barbara estate “is in their DNA at this point,” Kevin took the stand. “My biggest concern is that the court is ordering me to pay alimony that is above and beyond my children’s needs and Christina’s needs,” he said.
Asked as he left the courtroom during a lunch break if he “still loves” Christine, Kevin told reporters, “Of course.”
“This is a terrible place,” he added. “But here we are.”
Christine filed for divorce from Dances with Wolves Oscar winner in May after 18 years of marriage. Kevin’s rep said in a statement at the time: “It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have arisen that have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a divorce action.”
Kevin and Christine will appear in court again in December to determine the validity of their prenuptial agreement.
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Source: HIS Education