Wladimir Klitschko has filed a petition in California seeking temporary guardianship of his 11-year-old daughter Kaya’s estate, arguing that urgent legal action is needed to protect the inheritance she is set to receive following the death of her mother, actress Hayden Panettiere.
Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxing champion and Panettiere’s ex-fiancé, submitted the petition on September 24 in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The filing seeks to give him the legal authority to represent Kaya’s financial interests while Panettiere’s estate goes through probate. Kaya is identified in the court documents as the sole heir to her mother’s estate.
The request is separate from custody of Kaya. Klitschko already has custody of their daughter, and the new petition concerns the management and protection of her financial interests as Panettiere’s estate is settled. Because Kaya is a minor, the court can appoint a guardian of her estate to act on her behalf in probate proceedings.
Klitschko’s lawyers argue that the appointment is urgent because there is currently no personal representative in place to safeguard Panettiere’s estate. The petition warns that assets could be lost, damaged or otherwise dissipated before someone is formally appointed to manage the estate.
The filing also raises concerns about missing property. Klitschko says he was informed that some of Panettiere’s personal belongings, including jewelry, had disappeared or could not be accounted for. The documents also allege that people who were not members of Panettiere’s family had accessed and destroyed emails belonging to the actress. Those allegations are contained in Klitschko’s court filing and have not been established as findings by a court.
His petition further points to concerns Panettiere had previously expressed about unauthorized access to her home. According to the filing, she had taken security measures because of fears that someone could gain entry to the property. Klitschko says the circumstances make it important for a legal representative to take control of the estate and protect the home and its contents while the probate process moves forward.
The timing of the petition comes as authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death. The actress was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16. Emergency responders attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene at the age of 36.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office later determined that Panettiere died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine, and classified the manner of death as accidental. Authorities have said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death remains ongoing.
Panettiere, known internationally for her roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville”, had been open about her struggles with addiction and other personal difficulties. Her death came after she had recently completed a rehabilitation program, according to the Associated Press.
Klitschko and Panettiere began their relationship in the late 2000s, became engaged and welcomed Kaya in 2014. They later separated, with Klitschko assuming full custody of their daughter. The two remained connected through their role as parents.
The latest legal filing does not seek to determine who should ultimately administer Panettiere’s estate. Instead, Klitschko is asking the court for temporary authority that would allow him to protect Kaya’s interests and take the necessary legal steps while the estate is being handled through probate.
The court will now consider his request. If granted, the temporary guardianship would give Klitschko the legal standing needed to act on Kaya’s behalf in proceedings involving her mother’s estate and help ensure that assets intended for the actress’s daughter remain protected during the process.
