Wladimir Klitschko has filed an urgent petition in a Los Angeles court seeking temporary guardianship of his 11-year-old daughter Kaya’s estate, following the death of her mother, actress Hayden Panettiere.
The former professional boxer is seeking authority to receive, manage and hold Kaya’s assets on her behalf. The legal action is intended to protect the girl’s inheritance, as she is described in the petition as the sole beneficiary of Panettiere’s estate.
Panettiere, known for Heroes and Nashville, died aged 36 on August 16 after being found unresponsive at a residence in South Carolina. Her death was ruled accidental and attributed to the toxic effects of multiple drugs, including fentanyl.
Panettiere and Klitschko shared Kaya, who has lived with her father since 2018. At the time, Panettiere made the decision for her daughter to live with him while she sought treatment for postpartum depression and struggled with addiction.
Dispute over Hayden Panettiere’s estate
Klitschko’s petition states that it is “urgent and essential” for him to be appointed temporary guardian so he can manage Kaya’s assets. Panettiere died without a will, meaning her daughter is expected to inherit her properties, including an apartment in West Hollywood.
The filing also alleges that federal agents accessed Panettiere’s home as part of an ongoing investigation and removed some of her property.
Klitschko further claimed Panettiere had hired a security service before her death after concerns that an individual had gained unauthorised access to her property. He said the locks were changed and storage units containing designer clothing and accessories used for public appearances were moved as a precaution.
Although the petition does not name the person involved, Klitschko alleged that “it is expected that the individual will continue to try and misappropriate property belonging to Hayden’s estate”.
“Given the high publicity of Hayden’s estate, a personal representative needs to be appointed immediately to safeguard and protect Hayden’s home and contents,” he stated in the petition.
Panettiere’s parents, Lesley Vogel and Skip Panettiere, are also involved in a dispute over jewellery she was wearing when she died. One parent wanted earrings placed in a locker for safekeeping to be sent to an address in North Carolina, while the other wanted them mailed to an address in California.
Panettiere had been estranged from her mother, who previously managed her career, for several years before her death.
