Phoenix 24
The former heavyweight champion is asking a court to safeguard Hayden Panettiere’s estate.
Los Angeles
Wladimir Klitschko has initiated legal proceedings in California seeking temporary authority over the estate of his late former fiancée, actress Hayden Panettiere, with the objective of protecting the inheritance destined for their 11 year old daughter, Kaya. The request follows concerns that some of Panettiere’s property could disappear or become difficult to recover while broader investigations involving her belongings remain unresolved.
Klitschko has asked a Los Angeles court to appoint him as temporary representative of the estate. According to the filing, Panettiere died without a will, which would make Kaya the sole heir to her California assets under the applicable succession process. Those assets reportedly include her West Hollywood apartment as well as personal property, clothing, accessories and other items accumulated during her career.
The petition describes an unusual situation surrounding some of those belongings. Federal agents reportedly entered Panettiere’s residence as part of an ongoing investigation and removed certain items. Klitschko argues that appointing a representative immediately would allow the estate to recover those possessions once authorities no longer require them.
The filing also raises concerns about unauthorized access to Panettiere’s property before her death. According to the documents, the actress had hired private security because of concerns that an individual had entered the residence without permission. After her death, locks were changed and some containers holding designer clothing and accessories used during public appearances were moved to another location as a precaution.
Klitschko’s request is therefore focused primarily on asset preservation rather than changing custody arrangements involving Kaya. He has held full custody of their daughter since 2018, following Panettiere’s decision during a difficult period marked by postpartum depression and addiction. The actress later spoke publicly about the emotional pain of living apart from Kaya while maintaining that Klitschko had acted in their daughter’s best interests.
Panettiere died on August 16 at age 36 in South Carolina. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office determined that her death was accidental and resulted from the toxic effects of fentanyl combined with several other substances. Authorities reported no evidence that physical violence contributed to her death.
The legal process now centers on protecting what Panettiere left behind for her daughter. For Klitschko, the immediate task is not inheritance distribution but preventing the estate from losing control of assets before the succession process is completed.
Facts that do not bend.