Hayden Panettiere’s ex Wladimir Klitschko gets legal status to protect their daughter’s inheritance

Former boxer Wladimir Klitschko has been granted legal authority by a California court to protect his daughter's inheritance, after the actress Hayden Panettiere's accidental overdose death left her as the sole heir. Klitschko filed an urgent petition last week, stating that federal law enforcement agents and a nonfamily member were attempting to take and sell pieces of Panettiere's property without attempting to recover them for her daughter, Kaya, who is 11 years old.

Klitschko, who has full custody of Kaya, appeared in Los Angeles County court remotely via videoconference with his daughter, who was the only person visible on camera. Judge Stephanie Santoro granted Klitschko temporary guardian status over Kaya's estate until a permanent administrator could be appointed. The court documents indicated that the temporary guardian status was necessary to address the pawnshop owner, the police agencies, and the taxes that needed to be filed.

Panettiere, known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," was found unresponsive at her South Carolina home on August 16, 2021, and her death was attributed to an accidental overdose of several drugs, including fentanyl.