Tragic Heath Ledger left everything he owned to his parents and three sisters – and not to his baby daughter or ex-lover Michelle Williams.
The ‘Brokeback Mountain’ star, who died in January of “acute intoxication from the “abuse of prescription medications”, wrote a three-page will five years ago. But it appears he never updated it, even after setting up home with Brokeback Mountain co-star Michelle and having daughter Matilda Rose together.
That means everything appears to still be going to his parents, Kim and Sally, and sisters Kate, Ashleigh and Olivia.
However, the will – written in April 2003 – was written well before Heath hit the big time and does not directly mention the millions he has in his biggest assets. Yesterday it was still unclear if there may be some provisions to provide for his daughter.
Court papers filed in New York claim Ledger had less than $145,000 in New York assets at the time of his death, including $100,000 spread across various bank accounts, a $25,000 Toyota Prius and $20,000 in furniture and fixtures.
His greater wealth, including trust funds, Australian properties and the beautiful Brooklyn townhouse he once shared with Williams, is uncertain.
“If they had jointly held assets, those are not subject to probate,” said Karin Barkhorn, an estates specialist not involved in Heath’s case. “There’s no sleight of hand, it’s just not required.”
Barkhorn also pointed out that celebrities often put most of their money in trusts, which are not subject to public proceedings in court.
Although the will was written in Heath’s native Australia, details emerged in court papers in New York, where the star died.
The court papers also showed that Ledger’s family spent more than $39,000 on a memorial service for Ledger at a private service in New York, including $25,000 for his casket and $450 for 40 certified copies of his death certificate.
The bulk of Ledger’s estate will be still be handled in Australia.
Ledger’s lawyer, Harvey Corn, has asked the judge to seal the file to protect the family’s privacy. He noted how someone from England had been posing as Heath’s dad, Kim, to contact the star’s close friends and try to get free flights and hotel rooms after his death.
“While the case…has generated extraordinary public interest, it has also, unfortunately, brought out the worst in human nature,” Corn wrote.
Corn did not return calls. Ledger’s spokeswoman, Mara Buxbaum, declined comment.
Heath’s death on January 22 shocked fans who saw him as the happy family man – not a troubled star abusing drugs.
But toxicology results showed the Brokeback Mountain star had consumed a vast number of different prescription pills before being found dead in bed.
“Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine,” said New York Chief Medical Examiner Charles Hirsch. “We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications.”
Oxycodone is a painkiller, Hydrocodone is better known as Vicodin, Diazepam is commonly called Valium, and Temazepam treats anxiety or sleeplessness. Alprazolam is known as Xanax, and Doxylamine is a sedating antihistamine often used as a sleep aid.
Immediately after the report was released, Ledger’s father Kim accepted that it “put an end to speculation” about his son’s death.
However, he insisted: “Our son’s beautiful spirit and enduring memory will forever remain in our hearts.”
He also maintained that Heath’s death was from an accidental mix of drugs, not from taking large doses.
“While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy,” Mr Ledger said. “Heath’s accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage.”
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