Has Kevin Costner resolved prenup issue? Actor slams ex Christine Baumgartner's claims that she did not 'understand' agreement
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kevin Costner’s legal team has reportedly slammed Christine Baumgartner for claiming that she did not fully “understand” the terms and conditions of the prenuptial agreement when she signed it before their marriage in 2004.
Per the prenup, Baumgartner will receive $1.5M as payout in the case of the marriage ending but also stands the risk of forfeiting the amount if she challenges the agreement in court and loses.
Has Kevin Costner resolved prenup issue?
Costner’s prenup issue has not yet been resolved. Per People, in a recent filing, the actor's legal team has slammed Baumgartner's claims that she "didn't fully understand" the prenup agreement.
They said, “This contradicts the unambiguous language in the PMA wherein Christine represented in all caps that she ‘voluntarily’ and ‘free from duress, fraud or undue influence’ entered into the agreement.”
The legal team castigated Baumgartner by saying, “Christine cannot have her cake and eat it too. Christine asserts she cannot admit or deny that she understood the Premarital Agreement because she (and apparently all of her attorneys) do not understand the word 'understood.'"
Costner's legal team added, “This is gamesmanship of the worst sort. ‘Understood’ is not a technical or arcane word."
Baumgartner, after filing for divorce in May, also contested the prenuptial agreement. A trial has been scheduled for November, during which the validity of the agreement will be determined.
Why is Christine Baumgartner divorcing Kevin Costner?
Baumgartner filed for divorce in May citing “irreconcilable differences” per Us Weekly. Sources told the outlet that the 'Dances With Wolves' actor was “blindsided” by the decision of his wife of 18 years.
Sources said, “Everyone thought Kevin and his wife were super happy so it’s all surprising. He truly loves her and is trying to get her back.”
An insider claimed that Baumgartner felt that Costner was putting his “work ahead of the family,” which ultimately caused the rift.
The insider said, “Christine feels he should be the one to go. She’s so angry with Kevin for what she feels led to the end of their marriage — him putting work ahead of the family.”
What is in Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner's prenup?
Costner’s legal team mentioned the couple’s prenuptial agreement when the ‘Yellowstone’ actor filed for divorce following Baumgartner’s filing in May.
In the filing, the lawyers spoke about the couple’s separate properties and wrote, “Miscellaneous jewelry and other personal effects; earnings and accumulations of Respondent before marriage, during marriage, and from and after the date of separation; [and] there are additional separate property assets and obligations of each party as mandated by the parties' Premarital Agreement."
They added in the filing per People, "Pursuant to the terms in Paragraph 9.A. of the parties' Premarital Agreement, Petitioner to vacate Respondent's separate property residences."
How much does Kevin Costner have to pay Christine Baumgartner?
On July 11, a court ordered Costner to pay Christine Baumgartner $129,755 per month in child support. Fox News reported that the Oscar-winning actor has to pay additional $200,000 in attorneys’ fees and $100,000 in forensic costs.
The outlet also reported that Baumgartner had initially asked for $248,000 per month in child support or "in the alternative, at the guideline rate of $217,300 per month, payable on the first day of each month."
What is Christine Baumgartner's net worth now?
After Christine Baumgartner filed for divorce, Hello! Magazine reported her net worth to be around $7M. The former model accumulated wealth as the co-founder of her handbag company, Cat Bag Couture, and from her former career as a model.