Kevin Costner’s estranged wife cries during court hearing

Kevin Costner and his separated wife Christine They are in court for a child support hearing.

On Thursday, the former couple were seen arriving at a courthouse in Santa Barbara, California, for a hearing that was scheduled to take up Kristen’s case. Asking for $175,057 per month In child support – an increase of $46,000 over the $129,000 you currently receive from Yellowstone Najma, 68.

In an opening statement Thursday, Kristen’s attorney, John Riddell, said they have reduced the order amount to $161,592 per month, according to the forensic accountant’s latest assessment. The new amount remains higher than Costner’s suggestion of $60,000 a month, which his lawyers put forward during the hearing.

Kristen, 49, has three children with Costner: sons Kayden, 16, and Hayes, 14, as well as daughter Grace, 13. Submit a request for divorce After 18 years of marriage on May 1, and has since moved out of the family home by court order, A The source told People in July.

Christine’s legal filing obtained by PEOPLE on Aug. 26 states that “Forensics determined that (Kevin’s) average cash flow available for support for the 2021-2022 biennium was $19,248,467 per year ($1,604,039 per month).”

“Based on this cash flow, and a 50/50 parenting time sharing, the child support guideline, which is assumed to be correct under California law, is $175,057 per month,” the documents continued.

Never miss a story – subscribe People’s free daily newsletter To stay up to date with the best PEOPLE has to offer, from exciting celebrity gossip to compelling human interest stories.

During Thursday’s hearing, Riddell said that living a luxurious life is “in their DNA at this point,” referring to children, and listed all the sports they participate in. Houses owned by the family.

Christine also flipped through photos of the evidence and choked as she told the court: “It’s so much more than that – it’s an experiment.”

“We have created an amazing community,” she added, repeatedly referring to every part of it The Santa Barbara complex you vacated “for us.” The court said the house included a volleyball court, garden, infinity pool and two guesthouses.

Referring to the house’s “surf garage”, which also contains crafts, the mother-of-three said: “We make everything we can dream of here.”

Kristen added that their children are “very attached to the ocean – it’s their home” and noted that the surf garage is 50 steps away “toes in the water”.

A court document obtained by PEOPLE before the hearing also stated, “Christine is making this motion in order to uphold these principles of family law and to ensure that The three minor children of both parties We will continue to benefit from the lifestyle made possible by Kevin’s large earnings and wealth.”

Additionally, according to these legal documents, Costner’s various accounts and entities had a total of $17,293,117 in cash equivalent as of June 30, 2023, giving him enough funds to pay his support and also to pay the attorney’s fees and costs of both parties. ”

According to those court documents, $175,057 per month It wouldn’t be enough to replicate Kevin’s lifestyle, but it would be enough to allow her to provide a relatively similar lifestyle for the children.

If approved, the order will “become retroactive to July 1st.” According to the documents, “the court is obligated to set the level of child support at a level such that, when the children are with Christine, they lead a lifestyle relatively similar to that which they enjoy when they are with their father.”

A statement from Costner’s representative announcing the separation read, “It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have arisen which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in the dissolution of the marriage proceeding.”

Kristen is entitled to $1.5 million in compensation, subject to the prenuptial terms, which she previously claimed I felt “pressure” to sign.

Costner was photographed earlier this week getting off a private jet afterward Landing at home in Santa BarbaraAfter a trip to Glasgow, Scotland.

As for Christine, she is “focused on making sure everyone is as happy and comfortable as possible”, A.J The source told People in July. “She was very calm and I focused on sedimentation. It didn’t seem to bother her.”