Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner Skip Parenting Classes as Divorce Nears Finalization

Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner are moving closer to officially ending their marriage, requesting court approval to bypass parenting classes as part of their divorce proceedings.

⚖️ The Legal Update

According to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, the former couple has finalized a Marital Settlement Agreement covering custody matters. They petitioned the Santa Barbara County Court to waive the mandatory P.E.A.C.E. parenting class, a requirement in California divorces involving children, in order to speed up the process.

Judge Thomas Anderle is expected to sign the Judgment of Dissolution within the week, making the divorce official. The specific settlement details will remain confidential.

💰 The Child Support Dispute

Baumgartner filed for divorce in May 2023, citing irreconcilable differences. Initially, she requested $248,000 per month in child support for their three children: Cayden, Hayes, and Grace.

• In July, the court temporarily set payments at $129,755 per month.
• Later, the amount was reduced to $63,209 per month, with Costner covering additional expenses like healthcare, private schooling, extracurriculars, and even their oldest son’s car costs.

Judge Anderle ruled that any support beyond this figure could be considered disguised spousal support, leaving Baumgartner the option to revisit spousal support later.

🏠 Moving Forward

The couple also resolved disputes over their prenuptial agreement outside of court. Despite the lengthy process, Costner acknowledged that there are “no winners” in divorce, stressing the importance of moving forward with respect.

Looking ahead, he expressed confidence in co-parenting successfully with Baumgartner, praising her as an exceptional mother and emphasizing their shared commitment to raising their children together.