Relatives of the late actress Hayden Panettiere are supporting her former fiance, Wladimir Klitschko, in his legal effort to secure a guardianship over the estate of their 11-year-old daughter, Kaya.
Insiders close to the Panettiere family told TMZ on Tuesday that they are grateful for the recent legal moves made by Klitschko in a California court to protect the child's financial interests.
"Wlad is a great father," the sources told the outlet, describing the athlete's court filings as "a legal formality."
Panettiere died at the age of 36 on August 16 at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. Authorities ruled her death an accidental drug overdose involving fentanyl.
Court filings for guardianship
Klitschko, 50, recently submitted a petition to the Los Angeles County court seeking to become the sole person authorized to manage the assets that his daughter stands to inherit from Panettiere's probate estate.
The former professional boxer told the court that the legal action is intended to secure the late star's belongings on Kaya's behalf. In a filing reviewed by The Daily Mail, Klitschko argued that the California legal system has authority over the matter despite his daughter living overseas.
"Although Kaya is not a resident of California, this court has jurisdiction over the guardianship of Kaya's estate because, as such heir, Kaya is entitled to the entirety of the assets subject to Hayden's probate administration in California," Klitschko stated in the documents.
In California law, a guardianship of the estate is a process where a judge appoints a responsible adult to manage money or property belonging to a minor until they reach adulthood.
Klitschko formally requested lone access to the estate to "receive, manage and hold, on Kaya's behalf, the assets to which Kaya is entitled from Hayden's probate estate."
Security concerns and missing assets
In his petition, Klitschko detailed significant concerns regarding the security of Panettiere's property in the wake of her death.
He revealed that Panettiere had recently hired a security company to change the locks on her home. Klitschko said these security measures arose from a "documented concern that an individual had gained unauthorized access to Hayden's property." He did not name the individual in the filing.
The court documents also indicate that some of the actress's high value belongings were moved to protect them.
"Storage units containing designer clothing and accessories worn to public appearances have been relocated as a precaution," Klitschko added.
He emphasized that granting him the guardianship was "urgent and essential" to prevent the loss of property.
Furthermore, Klitschko noted that authorities had seized some of Panettiere's belongings during their investigation into her death, and that no one is currently appointed to account for the property or oversee the probate process.
"Without an immediate appointment for these purposes, there is a high probability that property belonging to Hayden’s Estate may be lost, damaged or dissipated before a duly appointed personal representative can be in place to protect it," Klitschko told the court.
He added that it is "essential that an Administrator of Hayden's Estate be appointed to marshal the missing assets and interface with law enforcement."
Coroner report on accidental overdose
Panettiere was a prominent American television and film actress. She was best known for her starring roles as Claire Bennet in the NBC science fiction series "Heroes" and as Juliette Barnes in the ABC musical drama "Nashville."
Last week, a spokesperson for the Greenville County Coroner's Office confirmed the details of her passing to The Daily Mail.
The spokesperson stated that the cause of death was ruled as the "toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol and Quetiapine."
The coroner ruled the manner of death an accident. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid, while 4-ANPP is a chemical precursor and metabolite associated with its manufacture.
Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine medication commonly prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders, often sold under the brand name Xanax. Methocarbamol is a central nervous system depressant used as a muscle relaxant, and Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication.
Ongoing police investigation
When Panettiere died in August, her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson was on the premises, along with his brother Zach Hickerson.
According to a police report, Brian Hickerson gave authorities a "bag of medication" belonging to Panettiere.
On August 20, Hickerson's lawyer, Sloan Ellis, released a statement regarding the incident.
"Hayden's death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed," Ellis said. "As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden's loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time."
Custody and family history
Klitschko is a Ukrainian former professional boxer who held multiple world heavyweight championships and won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games.
He and Panettiere first met in 2009 and dated for several years before breaking up in 2011.
The couple reconciled in 2013 and welcomed their daughter, Kaya, in 2014. They separated permanently in 2018.
Following their split, Klitschko was granted full legal custody of Kaya. At the time, Panettiere was battling severe postpartum depression, a clinical condition she spoke about publicly during her career. Klitschko and his daughter reside in Ukraine.
The guardianship petition is scheduled to be presented at a court hearing on October 8. The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for both Panettiere and Klitschko for further comment.
