Hayden Panettiere’s ex-fiancé files legal move to protect daughter’s inheritance
Wladimir Klitschko, Hayden Panettiere’s ex-fiancé and father of her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, has filed court documents in Los Angeles seeking to be named guardian of Kaya’s estate, aiming to protect her inheritance following Panettiere’s death on August 16 at age 36.
According to legal paperwork obtained by Page Six, Klitschko filed the petition on Thursday, arguing that although Kaya currently lives with him in Ukraine and is not a California resident, the court retains jurisdiction over her inheritance because she stands to receive the entirety of assets tied to Panettiere’s probate case in California.
The filing describes the request as “urgent and essential,” stating Klitschko needs authority to “receive, manage and hold” Kaya’s inheritance on her behalf.
Court documents cited concerns about the security of Panettiere’s estate amid intense public attention, stating, “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.”
Klitschko did not name specific individuals in the filing but alleged that non-family members have “accessed and destroyed” some of Panettiere’s emails.
The filing also comes amid a reported dispute between Panettiere’s parents, Lesley Vogel and Alan “Skip” Panettiere, over certain personal belongings, including stud earrings, following her death.
Klitschko gained custody of Kaya in 2018, after Panettiere signed over her physical and legal custody rights to him during a period when she was battling addiction to alcohol and prescription medication.
Panettiere later described the decision as “the hardest thing I ever had to do,” telling PEOPLE at the time that she’d expected to regain custody once she recovered, and pushing back on any suggestion that she had abandoned her daughter.
“The idea that anybody would think that I would just give away my child and be OK with it is heartbreaking.”
Following Panettiere’s death, Klitschko paid tribute to her publicly, writing, “Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief. The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply,” and describing her as “an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya.”
He has also said he intends to keep Panettiere’s memory alive for their daughter going forward.
