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Heath Ledger's Will Excludes Michelle And Matilda, Leading To Ledger Family Crisis
Posted by Molly Friedman at 4:39 AM on March 11, 2008
Though Heath Ledger was busy racking up film roles in the years leading up to his death that fattened his wallet, there was one practical economic task he overlooked: updating his will. According to the Daily Mail, Ledger hadn't rewritten the document since 2003, one year before he met Michelle Williams on the set of Brokeback Mountain. As a result, the actor's sole beneficiaries will be his parents and now-estranged sisters, which leaves his daughter Matilda and Michelle out of the picture. But a surprising lack of assets in New York begs the question: how much did Ledger have to give, exactly?
"A series of documents filed in Manhattan Surrogate's Court revealed that the actor had less than $145,000 in New York assets at the time, including a $25,000 Toyota Prius and $20,000 in furniture and fixtures."
Both the Daily Mail and the NY Daily News are quick to speculate that Ledger most likely had trust funds, not to mention properties in Australia, but one of his priciest assets included the Brooklyn townhouse he'd shared with Michelle, originally bought in 2005 for $3.6 million. So why the (relatively) paltry sum given by the courts? As an estates specialist told the News, trusts and "jointly held assets" aren't included in Surrogate's Court findings. In the meantime, his father Kit has assured the press that Matilda and Michelle "will be taken care of," though the How factor is currently missing in the equation.
- FAMILY FEUD ERUPTS OVER HEATH LEDGER'S WILL AFTER DAUGHTER MATILDA IS LEFT OUT [Daily Mail]
- HEATH LEDGER ASSETS GIVEN TO PARENTS, SIBLINGS [NYDN]
Tags: heath ledger | michelle williams | post mortem mayhem
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Trish
Posted March 11, 2008 8:17 AM
Matilda's inheritance should not be left up to Kim Ledger's goodwill. The story goes that he already estranged himself from two brothers over money. Money makes people do strange things. Matilda should get the entire estate. If Heath had wanted it split with parents, siblings as well as his own daughter, he should have done up a new will. What were his advisors / account(s) thinking?? Or not thinking?!!!! With the birth of his child, all of that should have been taken care of.
As it stands, I only hope that the daughter's preeminent rights are upheld, Kim Ledger et al probably have enough money already, it should go to the baby.
Democratica
Posted 7:21 AM 11/3/08
I believe the estranged rels are actually uncles and not sisters... though with shameless gossiping, who cares about such details...
Democratica
Sweet Panda Love
Posted 7:21 AM 11/3/08
It's New York assets, so I guess he kept most of his monies elsewhere.
Wanna place bets on when Yahoo is going to post a story on the important lesson herein that even young people need to have wills?
Sweet Panda Love
Bogart Shwadchuck
Posted 7:21 AM 11/3/08
@jasonelias: Yes indeed, fact: Heath Ledger stacked chips like Pringles
Bogart Shwadchuck
jasonelias
Posted 7:21 AM 11/3/08
Damn, did he lose his money in a pyramid scheme or something? Ledger made and should have had some mad, mad dollars/crazy bank. Hopefully he has it stashed somewhere.
jasonelias
SneakingThroughTheAlleyWithLalley
Posted 7:21 AM 11/3/08
The family already sent out a press release saying that of course Matilda would be taken care of, as will Michelle. They even cited Williams as an integral part of their family.
Though, I'm sure Williams is highly capable of taking care of herself. I wonder if she gets high residuals when random losers buy season four of dawson's @ best buy.
SneakingThroughTheAlleyWithLalley
Bai Lingual
Posted 8:07 AM 11/3/08
Grammar police are douches, but I can't resist the urge to cash in one of my douche chips on this one: "Heath Ledger was busy racking up film roles in the years leading up to his death that fattened his wallet..." I hope if my death fattens my wallet it's because my relatives need the money to ship me home after I choke to death on my own vomit during the booze filled imperialist sex tour of young East African men I plan to take in my 40s.
Bai Lingual
Tippi from Toronto
Posted 1:07 PM 11/3/08
I need to know more about the now-estranged sisters. First I have ever heard of that. And I thought there was just one sister, anyway, and she was photographed comforting Michelle at the funeral.
I need to know, dammit!!!! Who are these estranged sisters??
Tippi from Toronto
RubySubmarine
Posted 1:07 PM 11/3/08
His dad's name is Kim, not Kit.
RubySubmarine
jasonelias
Posted 4:38 PM 11/3/08
@Tippi from Toronto: We'll probably find out about these sisters, as we speak Donny Osmond is elbows deep in their garbage.@Bogart Shwadchuck: I heard that heh heh...
jasonelias