Kevin Costner Seen at Court Hearing to Address Christine’s Request for Increased Child Support – Kevin Costner appeared in court on Thursday for a hearing related to his estranged wife Christine’s child support request. On that day, the actor from Yellowstone was captured in photographs with his legal team, which included Laura Wasser, during a break for lunch outside the Santa Barbara courthouse.
During his opening statement, John Rydell, who represents Christine, stated that they were revising Christine’s child support request to $161,592 per month based on the latest assessment by a forensic accountant. In contrast, Costner’s legal team proposed a monthly payment of $60,000.
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As of now, Christine is currently receiving $129,000 per month in child support for their three children—Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13—following her divorce filing in May. The couple had been married for 18 years. In court documents filed on August 26, the mother of three had initially sought $175,057 per month from Costner.
Christine’s court filings said “forensics has determined that [Kevin’s] average cash flow available for support for the two-year period of 2021 and 2022 was $19,248,467 per year ($1,604,039 per month).” “Based on this cash flow, and a 50/50 parenting time share, the guideline child support, which is presumptively correct under California law, is $175,057 per month,” the documents continued.
The amount would have allowed the children to maintain a lifestyle that was considered “relatively comparable” to the one they were raised in, according to the documents. The documents added that Christine wanted to ensure that her and Costner’s “three minor children will continue to have the benefit of the lifestyle that has been made possible by Kevin’s substantial earnings and wealth.”
During Thursday’s hearing, Rydell said that the lifestyle Christine and Costner’s children have grown accustomed to is “in their DNA at this point.” “It’s so much more than this — it’s an experience,” Christine told the court as she looked at evidentiary photos. “We’ve created quite a community,” she added, repeatedly referring to the Santa Barbara compound she vacated as “ours.”
The home, as stated in court, includes a volleyball court, a garden, an infinity pool and two guest houses. Christine explained how a decrease in financial status would affect their kids. She said their children are “very connected to the ocean — it’s their home,” and noted the surf garage is 50 steps from “toes in the water.”
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In July, an insider informed a news outlet that Christine had relocated from the family’s residence on the $145 million Santa Barbara estate she had shared with Costner, in accordance with the conditions outlined in their prenuptial agreement. Initially, she stayed at a smaller house on the same property, but as confirmed during the court proceedings on Thursday, she subsequently moved to a nearby rental property, which costs $40,000 per month.
“Christine is trying to keep everything as normal as possible,” the source told a news outlet in July. At the time of their split, a rep for the actor said in a statement, “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.”