'08
After what seems like an incredibly long time, Heath Ledger’s estate is nearly settled, with the entire thing going to his two-year-old daughter Matilda. The Ledger family says Michelle Williams never had to make a claim on Heath’s will because they have “gifted” every penny to Matilda.
EVERY penny of Heath Ledger’s estimated $20 million will go to his little girl Matilda Rose, Ledger’s father says. In his will, which has been probated behind closed doors at the Supreme Court in Perth, Ledger left everything to his parents and three sisters. Many observers expected his former partner Michelle Williams to lodge a claim on the will, which was signed by the actor on April 12, 2003, two years before Matilda was born.
The will left half of the estate to Ledger’s sisters, Kate and Olivia Ledger and Ashleigh Bell. The remainder was to go to his parents, Kim Ledger and Sally Bell, after debts had been paid. But Ledger’s father, Kim, says there will be no challenge and the family has given everything to Matilda. “There is no claim,” Mr Ledger said. “Our family has gifted everything to Matilda.”
Some estimates have put the value of the Heath Ledger estate at up to $20 million. But Adelaide accountant Mark Dyson, who is an executor of the estate, said he could not reveal what Matilda would inherit. The will, filed at the Manhattan equivalent of Australia’s Family Court after Ledger died in New York on January 22 from a cocktail of prescription drugs, puts the bulk of his assets into a trust.
[From Perth Now]
Michelle Williams’ father, who is a well-known stock market trader, had had a beef with the Ledger family over some of the financial details in Ledger’s will that didn’t make sense.
Despite the millions of dollars in property in Ledger’s trusts, his will lists assets and cash of just $145,000, with no mention of mansions or millions.
Williams’ father has previously challenged the grieving Ledger family to publicly state the value of their son’s fortune.
Larry Williams, one of the world’s best-known stock market traders, said he was perplexed that documents filed in a New York court listed Ledger’s assets at just $145,000.
“It’s real simple: just come clean with everything,” he said.
[From Perth Now]
It does seem that Heath’s affairs (and finances) were a bit out of order, to say the least. He hadn’t updated his will since Matilda was born, which added a lot of complications. And clearly he had some sort of assets worth a good deal more than $145,000, as it’s estimated Matilda will probably inherit something around $16.5 million in U.S. dollars.
Hopefully this wraps up any lingering tensions between the Ledger and Williams families and they can all continue to be involved in Matilda’s life.
Written by JayBird
Posted in Heath Ledger, Kids, Michelle Williams, Money, Photos
- Top five cutest dogs in movies [Evil Beet]
- Lady Gaga’s schtick is getting so old [Lainey Gossip]
- Bobbi Kristina was hospitalized after her mom Whitney Houston passed [D-Listed]
- Kellan Lutz’s ridic new facial hair [Go Fug Yourself]
- Katy Perry checks out Rihanna’s cleavage [Fark]
- Tom Cruise carries Suri in a blanket [Popsugar]
- Zooey Deschanel on SNL [Pajiba]
- Vanessa Hudgens wears fur [Celebslam]
- Matt Bomer sort-of came out. He wasn’t out already? [The Daily Wh.at]
- Bruce Willis and his pregnant wife [INF Daily]
10 Responses to “Heath Ledger’s estate left entirely to daughter Matilda”
Leave a Reply
By commenting you agree to our comment policy
Use the "Report this comment as spam or abuse" link to ask the moderators to delete a comment if it's offensive. If your comment disappears, it may have been eaten by the spam filter. Please e-mail cbcomments at gmail.com to get it retrieved.
Get an icon next to your name by signing up for a free Gravatar
I think it’s *somewhat* understandable that Heath’s will wasn’t in order. He was young and certainly didn’t expect to die soon.
He should have updated the will when his daughter was born to make sure she would be provided for, of course. But I would imagine he thought he had more time to get things straightened out for her.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
That is wonderful. I am glad it was resolved, and that the baby will receive her Dads estate.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Yes, making a will when you’re in your twenties isn’t something you’re thinking about…You think old age or death is something that happens to other people.
I wouldn’t have thought it unreasonable of them to have kept a small portion of it; obviously Heath wanted them to be taken care of.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
this is great news
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Those pictures make me so sad.
I still miss him.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
AGREE SHANNON….My youngest son is 26 and has two daughters, and it was a struggle to get him and his wife to see how important a will can be…It took the death of a close friend, and watching his family fight each other for ” the stuff and money”, and arguing with banks and attorneys, because he had not prepared a last will and testament for his family…Now he has one in place…I’m sure Heath was the same way, thinking he had all the time in the world to sit down and dictate to an attorney what he wanted to go where…It is depressing and can be time consuming. But look at the end result when you did NOT make an effort…Matilda is a lucky girl, that she has parents who think of her welfare and have friends that donate their salary to her..” Depp” and others. ( past post )
Report this comment as spam or abuse
I know he was young and certainly didn’t think he’d be dying soon but anyone with property, significant amounts of money and MOST importantly with a dependent NEEDS to have a will. Age should have nothing to do with it.
And I can see where he wouldn’t think of this but certainly his managers, attorneys, financial adivisers were not on the ball when he a two year old child and will that had not been updated.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
I think it’s great that Heath’s family also made sure his daughter received his estate. Certainly, legally, they didn’t have to do so.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
I am surprised, but gladdened that the family did the right thing, especially Heath’s father. No doubt Michelle’s father had something to do with the outcome for his granddaughter.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
classy move. Do what Heath would have done had he had the foresight to update his will.
Report this comment as spam or abuse