Kevin Costner Calls Ex Christine’s Request for Him to Cover ‘Whopping’ $885K in Legal Fees ‘Nonsensical’

Kevin Costner is contesting his estranged wife Christine’s request that he pay a “whopping” $885,000 toward her legal fees.

In a court document obtained by PEOPLE — filed Monday in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara — the 68-year-old Oscar winner’s legal team argues the amount requested by Christine, 49, is “unreasonable” and “nothing short of outrageous.”

The filing claims Christine has already received “$405,000 in fees, including an award of $300,000 in legal fees ($200,000 in attorney’s fees and $100,000 in forensic accounting fees) on July 12” and “remov(ed) $105,000 for fees from Kevin’s accounts.”

According to Kevin’s filing, “the Family Code requires the Court to assess whether the fees incurred and prospective fees are reasonably necessary.”

“Although Kevin is the wealthier party with a higher cash flow than Christine, Christine is quite capable of contributing to her own attorneys’ fees,” the document states.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories

Earlier in the filing, Kevin’s legal team claims that “Christine’s argument that Kevin has incurred more in fees than she was awarded and what she took from his accounts is not, standing alone, a valid basis for an award of additional fees to her.”

“The amount Kevin has incurred cannot be the talisman of how much Christine should be awarded in fees,” the document reads.

It also alleges the Yellowstone actor “has been forced to spend substantial attorney’s fees as a result of Christine’s uncooperative conduct,” noting that Kevin “has had to repeatedly go to court to (successfully) obtain relief.”

“Christine’s actions increased the fees incurred by not only Christine, but also Kevin,” Kevin’s filing states. “To use these fees as the basis for an argument that Christine needs more to level the playing field is nonsensical.”

An attorney for Christine did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Last week, Judge Thomas Anderle ruled Christine must cover over $14,000 of Kevin’s legal costs that he said he accrued while trying to obtain answers about her understanding of their prenuptial agreement (PMA).

During the ruling, Judge Anderle emphasized that this is “certainly a case of consequence.”

In a request for order filed in California Superior Court last month, attorneys for Kevin asked the court to compel Christine to respond to their questions, claiming she “refuses to make known all of her contentions regarding the validity of the PMA.”

The documents filed by the actor’s attorneys continued, “The objections she has mustered in an effort to not disclose her contentions are frivolous. She says she does not understand words like ‘understood’ or ‘negotiation,’ so she cannot answer this discovery.”

The filing specified the legal fees totaled $14,237.50, further stating, “Discovery is not a game of chicken. Kevin should never have been required to spend money to file a motion.”

Christine filed for divorce from Kevin in May after 18 years of marriage. They share three children: Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13.

A rep for the actor said in a statement at the time of Christine’s divorce filing, “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.”

During a two-day Santa Barbara court case determining child support in late August, a judge set the monthly payments Kevin will pay to Christine at $63,209, matching his proposed amount after she and her lawyers had requested $175,057, up from the $129,755 the actor had been tentatively ordered to pay.

After Christine’s attorney John Rydell said the oceanside lifestyle their three children have enjoyed at their Santa Barbara compound is “in their DNA at this point,” Kevin took the stand, where he said, “My biggest concern is that the court orders me to pay child support that is above the needs of my children and for the needs of Christine.”

The former couple will appear in court again in December to hash out the validity of their premarital agreement.

Read More