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Heath Ledger's Will: Matilda and Michelle "Will Be Taken Care Of," Says Dad
Heath Ledger by Djamilla Rosa Cochran/ WireImage.com
The late Heath Ledger's will, as reported by the New York Daily News, leaves everything he owned to his parents and three sisters. Ledger, who died Jan. 22 from an accidental overdose, filed the three-page will in April 2003, two years before he met Brokeback Mountain costar Michelle Williams, with whom he would fall in love and have a daughter, Matilda.
Other Ledger documents filed in Manhattan Surrogate's Court reveal that he had less than $145,000 in New York assets at the time of his death, including a $25,000 Toyota Prius and $20,000 in furniture and fixtures. That, however, does not take into account the Brooklyn townhouse he and Williams shared, any property he had in Australia or cash deposited in trust funds. As one estate specialist tells the News, "If [Ledger and Williams] had jointly held assets, those are not subject to probate. It's just not required."
Though it at first was unclear if any provisions would be made for the actor's 2-year-old daughter, Ledger's father, Kim, has since said in a statement, "Matilda is an absolute priority and Michelle is an integral part of our family. They will be taken care of and that's how Heath would want it to be."
Related:
• Exclusive: Feds Investigating Ledger's Death by Accidental OD
• Michelle Williams Breaks Silence: "My Heart Is Broken"
• Photo Gallery: Actors Who Left Us Too Soon
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Mar 8, 2008 4:09 PM
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A final lesson from this tragic death: update your legal matters every time you have a major change in your life.
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Mar 8, 2008 5:43 PM
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update your legal matters every time you have a major change in your life.
So true, and I have been sadly derelict in that regard, with the two anklebiters around now. I really need to move on that.
Calling Crane, Poole & Schmidt now....
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Mar 8, 2008 6:52 PM
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Michelle Williams has her own money, and she and the child are unlikely to go hungry. I am certain if there is no trust fund for the child, his family will be certain to set something up for the baby girl. No young person ever expect to die like that, but certainly if he died completely broke, his family would never let his child go hungry or homeless. He never married Michelle, so there is no reason to leave his money to her. The best thing is that he had a will at all, and did not die leaving everything in limbo. His family can take care of his business, legacy, and image; the child is too young to make business decisions. Without knowing more information, Heath may have wanted things the way there are in his will. His family seem like good people, so I am certain they will do the right things.
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Mar 8, 2008 7:31 PM
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I have nothing but the utmost respect for Heath Ledger and am incredibly sorry for his death. He was such a young man that from the time he had Matillda to his death,he probably didn't even conceive of his death. I am sure if he were aware of his impending death, things would be totally different. He would have provided for Matillda and I think he would have definitely left something for the mother of his child (Michelle). It seemed to me that there separation was amicable. Also, I am sure his parents (whom have my sincerest and deepest sympathy) have memorabilia and personal affects that they can keep and maintain to hold on to his memory. I have lost my family, I know how hard it is and how different people act after a death.
I sincerely offer my deepest sympathy and heartfelt respect to Heath's family and especially to Michelle and their beautiful daughter Matillda. He will be greatly missed and I think they should be incredibly proud of Heath. He was a great man from what I could tell.
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Mar 9, 2008 3:55 AM
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May we not assume that a young man who had the presence of mind to create a will at age 23 also had the presence of mind to take his tax attorneys advice and create tax-exempt trusts for his daughter and purchase real estate with her mother with rights of survivorship? Why must news outlets jump to unsubstantiated conclusions with few, if any facts?
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Mar 9, 2008 9:30 AM
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Sure Heath probably should have made adjustments to his will once Matilda was born, but I don't believe this is any big deal, because I am absolutely certain that his family (and Michelle) will see that she is well taken care of. I really believe this is pretty much a non-issue unlike other celebrities who left their wills not updated despite the birth of a new child and a legal situation that was clearly in limbo(coughcoughannanicolesmithcoughcough).
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Mar 9, 2008 12:09 PM
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Considering he had a will done at age 23, I'm really surprised he didn't update it after the birth of Matilda. I hope Michelle learns from this lesson and updates/creates a will, not that I want anything to happen to her.
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Mar 10, 2008 11:48 AM
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I hope that Ledger's family does honor his memory and that he would want to have provided for their granddaughter but the fact remains you can leave nothing to chance in circumstances like these. A friend of mine was killed in a car accident never having changed the beneficiary on his life insurance policy to his wife of ten years. He left two small children and when his mother received the $100,000 check it was assumed she would give it to her son's wife and children. We were wrong. She kept it saying, "If he had wanted them to have the money he would have made that change. He obviously wanted me to have it." Not even the guy's father could convince her otherwise. Moral of the story, update your wills and trusts.
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Mar 11, 2008 7:45 AM
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