Kevin Costner’s Hollywood lawyer slams his ex-wife Christine’s ‘outrageous’ demand that the Yellowstone star pay her $885,000 legal bill
- Christine Baumgartner has filed for divorce after 19 years of marriage and three children
- She fights the actor and director over their prenup and the amount of child support he will pay her
- A judge recently reduced her monthly support payment from $248,000 to $63,000
Laura Wasser, Kevin Costner’s Hollywood lawyer, is slamming her client’s ex, Christine Baumgartner, for asking him to pay as much as $885,000 in legal fees.
The 49-year-old Baumgartner – who was recently ordered to pay a $14,000 fine – filed a petition with a judge to get her 68-year-old ex to pay $885,000 for her attorneys’ fees… matter in divorce court.
The question at hand is whether her “exemption from spousal support is enforceable,” she said TMZalthough Wasser claims the question is “downright outrageous.”
Wasser claims that, based on hourly rates, Baumgartner’s attorneys would have to accumulate 1,106 billable hours to justify that amount.
The question seems even more outrageous because Wasser claims a judge has already agreed that the prenup is enforceable.
Rays: Kevin Costner’s lawyer Laura Wasser shoots her client’s ex Christine Baumgartner for asking him to pay as much as $885,000 in legal fees
Fees: Baumgartner, 49, has petitioned a judge to have her 68-year-old ex pay $885,000 for her attorney’s fees… just to argue one issue in divorce court
Hours: Wasser claims that, based on hourly rates, Baumgartner’s attorneys would have to accumulate 1,106 billable hours to justify that amount
In early July, a judge enforced a provision of the marriage contract that stated that Baumgartner had a certain number of days to leave the family home in the event of a divorce.
Baumgartner claimed that she will “move in due course, but this is a major undertaking and can only be accomplished with careful planning.”
The judge disagreed and upheld that provision, meaning she had until July 31 to vacate the home she shared with Costner.
That ruling could ultimately mean the entire prenuptial agreement is enforceable, which could be another major loss for Baumgartner.
Wasser stated that Costner has already paid $300,000 for her legal fees, adding that she reportedly took over $105,000 from his accounts for her legal team.
Baumgartner has apparently already lost more in her legal battle than what she would have gotten if she had settled with her ex.
She originally asked for a whopping $248,000 a month in child support for their three children, Cayden Wyatt, 15, Hayes Logan, 14, and Grace Avery, 13.
Costner and his lawyers rejected that amount, saying the correct amount should be $63,000 per month.
Eviction: In early July, a judge enforced a provision of the prenuptial agreement that stated that in the event of a divorce, Baumgartner had a certain number of days to leave the family home.
Lost: Baumgartner has apparently already lost more in her legal battle than what she would have gotten if she had settled with her ex
Costner also offered to pay $75,000 per month, which Baumgartner rejected, before a judge ruled that $63,000 per month was the correct amount.
The 68-year-old actor was spotted in one of SoFi Stadium’s luxury suites during Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour stop last month.
The Dances With Wolves star was spotted with his 13-year-old daughter Grace and a friend as they rocked out to one of the 32-year-old singer’s most famous break-up songs: We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.
The Oscar-winning actor and director was seen smiling wryly as his daughter sang along to the 2012 hit from her album Red.