Heath Ledger's Estate Goes To Daughter

PERTH, Australia — Heath Ledger's 2-year-old daughter Matilda Rose will inherit all of her father's estate, Ledger's father says.

The Australian actor, who died from an accidental prescription drug overdose in January, signed a will before his daughter was born leaving everything to his parents and three sisters. Some had speculated his former partner Michelle Williams would lodge a claim for the money.

But Ledger's father, Kim Ledger, told the Australian newspaper The Sunday Times that the family had given all the money to Matilda and that there had been no challenge from Williams.

"There is no claim," the newspaper quoted Kim Ledger as saying in a report published Sunday. "Our family has gifted everything to Matilda."

The actor signed the will on April 12, 2003. It lists assets and cash of just $118,000, but the actor's estate is believed to be worth more than $16.3 million, the newspaper said.

Adelaide accountant Mark Dyson, who is an executor of the estate, said he could not reveal how much Matilda would inherit.

Comments

[Swerinjer]

Minus a huge chunk for the lawyers.

[oliverchlothesofF]

who is that gal in the white tee. sweet rackage

[defdes]

Ummm....the mother of his child, Milfchelle Williams.

[westreal]

A very stand up thing to do for all of the adults involved. The daughter should get every penny.

[majorteddy]

I hope that all goes well for the little girl and that no one takes advantage of the situation for personal gain.

[siney]

man, you people are vicious...

[DebofMD]

Good for Matilda. Much respect to Heath's family for doing that. And that is Heath in the photo.

[tkondaks]

I have ZERO respect for the family.
After-born children ALWAYS get 100% of a parent's estate when there is no spouse. The family obviously got legal advice informing them of this and that is the SOLE reason they came out with the announcement because, legally, they didn't have a snowball's chance in hell to get a cent of Ledger's fortune, DESPITE what his will said.
I would have respect for them if they had made the announcement within a few weeks of Ledger's death. They didn't.

[Snow97]

I agree with you that it shouldn't have taken the Ledger family such a long time to make the only right decision. On the other hand, better late than never -- and it saves Ledger's daughter a protracted lawsuit to try to get what was surely meant for her, all along.

[NatteringNabobs]

I don't agree. They had a right based on the final will and testament. I'm sure if the REALLY wanted a piece of it they could have strung this out many many years, even if they didn't have a leg to stand on.

They just lost their son. I doubt they were thinking about getting paid. In pure grievance terms he hasn't been dead that long to people that loved him...plus, Matilda can't spend the money for decades.

Give the family a break.

[IndyReader]

I hope they put the money in an iron-clad trust until she's 21 so that neither Heath's family nor Michelle can get their hands on it. Michelle is living off of her babymama status, and there's no telling what the Ledger family will do with the money.

[andvoodoo2]

Michelle is an actor, too. She was in "Brokeback Mountain" with Ledger. She has worked steadily since then, averaging 4 movies a year. She is not "living off of her babymama status".

[starcasmdotnet]

good thing

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

As it should -- where else would it go?

[dcree77]

It would go to his parents and sisters. That's what happens when you fail to update your will. It does not matter that he has a daughter. It is the responsibility of each person to make sure that they have an up to date will. He did his daughter a disservice by failing to make sure that he updated his will. She is very, very fortunate that his family was willing to do what he failed to do.

[tkondaks]

Really?
I don't think so.
Common law supercedes anything Ledger wrote in his will, specifically if no mention of offspring was put in. "After-born" children get everything if there is no spouse.
from: http://www.answers.com/topic/after-born-child
"The existence of an after-born child has significant legal ramifications upon gifts made under wills and trusts. Under the law of wills, the birth of an after-born child after the parent makes a will does not revoke it but has the effect of modifying its provisions. Generally, the after-born child must be given the share of the parent's estate that the child would have been entitled to if the parent had died without leaving a will, according to the law of descent and distribution. The beneficiaries of the will must contribute a proportionate share of what they inherited to make up the after-born child's share."
So, contrary to what you wrote, dcree77, Ledger's daughter is NOT fortunate that Ledger's family was willing to do what he failed to do because it is a certainty that the court would have given the child 100% of the estate anyway. Looks to me like the family saw the writing on the wall and, resignedly, did what they knew the court would do.

[piul05]

I don't think that's the case in Australia - like most countries on this planet, someone's estate goes necessarily to their children, regardless of what any previous will might say.

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

Talk about integrity.

[tkondaks]

What integrity?
If the family had integrity, they would have made this announcement months ago, right after Ledger died.
They obviously made the announcement now after having gotten legal advice which would have clearly been that they if this thing went to court (which it would have if they had tried to get a penny of Ledger's money) they court would have given the daughter 100% of the estate.
See my response above to dcree77.

[mredder4]

Not everyone has the presence of mine to get over the death of their son and brother quick enough to begin portioning out his money.

Seriously, if they did this too quick, they would have been seen as squabbling over the remains. Too late, and they're subject to opinions like this.

There is no "right" time to deal with these issues, for any family.

[NewArtz]

Good, this makes her heir to the money also to be made in the future as he is honored as the legend he is.

[bubblebee]

WOW, what a respectable family. They did the right thing.

[MarciL]

Yes, very classy!

[tkondaks]

They only did what the court would have done...and the fact that they did it months after Ledger died means that they have probably been conniving to get their sticky little fingers on what is rightfully the daughter's. The family is FAR from respectable.
After-born children always get 100% of a parent's estate when there is no spouse.

[siney]

do you have an ax to grind or what?

[pattio66]

Well how 'bout that? Celebrity kin NOT fighting over the money? Oh yeah, Ledger was Australian, not American...

[strangerinthenight]

As it should be. 'am sure Matilda Rose would have rather have her Dad. 'glad her Mom is always there for this little girl.

On the brighter side, imagine what kind of gene-acting-gift her Dad endowed her, and of course, Michelle too.

[SHOPARAZZI]

great ruling! in lieu of his and anna nicole's death we need be steadfast about getting our own affairs in order before the inevitable happens.