Judge orders Kevin Costner's estranged wife Christine to leave his house
A judge has ordered Christine Baumgartner, the wife of Kevin Costner, to leave his home by the end of the month.
Costner, 68, and Baumgartner, 49, are splitting up after she filed for divorce earlier this year to bring an end to their 18 years of marriage.
The two of them tied the knot in September 2004 at Costner's ranch after a four year relationship and have since had three children together.
In May a representative for Costner confirmed that his wife had filed for divorce, but in June we reported that Baumgartner had not yet left his house despite court documents suggesting that in the event of a separation the 68-year-old actor would have exclusive use of his homes.
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Court documents say that he has asked the 49-year-old multiple times to move out and offered financial support to help her find a new residence.
The documents say that Baumgartner has said she will not move out until Costner agrees to a series of financial demands, while he claims that he's paid her $1,200,000 (£945,000) according to the terms of their pre-nuptial agreement.
Costner also says he's paying for the expenses for their three children Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14 and Grace, 13.
Baumgartner was supposed to vacate any of Costner's properties within a certain number of days after filing for divorce, and since she did so on 1 May the matter has gone to a judge.
According to TMZ, a judge has ruled in Costner's favour, rejecting Baumgartner's claims that he was trying to kick her out of the house unfairly and deciding that she needs to be out of the house by 31 July.
They reported that the judge's written ruling called her claims 'without merit' and did not side with her argument that 'will move out in due course' but was being held up as moving was a 'major undertaking and can only be accomplished with careful planning'.
They also report that an attorney for the 49-year-old has requested an extension until 15 August, having argued that she doesn't have enough time or money to arrange alternative accommodation before the end of the month.
Costner has four other children from two previous relationships, having had kids Annie, 39, Lily, 36, and Joe, 35 with first wife Cindy Silvia after they tied the knot in 1975, they divorced in 1994.
His 27-year-old son, Liam, came from a relationship he had with actor Bridget Rooney.
Topics: Celebrity, Sex and Relationships
Joe Harker