Hayden Panettiere’s ex Wladimir Klitschko files for urgent temporary guardianship of daughter Kaya’s estate
Hayden Panettiere’s ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko has made an ‘urgent’ legal move to protect their daughter Kaya’s inheritance – amid concerns the late actress’s property is at risk after her death.
The star died aged 36 on August 16 at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, from the ‘toxic effects’ of multiple drugs – including fentanyl. Her death was accidental.
She is solely survived by daughter Kaya, 11, whom she welcomed during her nine-year romance with boxer Klitschko, 50.
In 2018, when Kaya was three, she signed full custody to her ex amid her battle with postpartum depression and addiction and Klitschko moved their daughter to his native Ukraine.
To protect Kaya’s inheritance as the sole beneficiary of Panettiere’s reported $6 million estate and ensure Panettiere’s possessions are returned to her after the investigation into her death, Klitschko filed a petition in Los Angeles last week to become the temporary guardian of Kaya’s estate.
The filing obtained by The Daily Mail reads, ‘Kaya is a US citizen, residing abroad with her father, Wladimir. Hayden, a US citizen and resident of California, died intestate on August 16, 2026.
‘Although Kaya is not a resident of California, this court has jurisdiction over the guardianship of Kaya’s estate because, as such heir, Kaya is entitled to the entirety of the assets subject to Hayden’s probate administration in California.
Hayden Panettiere’s ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko has filed for temporary guardianship of their daughter’s estate – amid concerns that the late actress’s property is at risk after her death
In 2018, Panettiere signed full custody of her daughter, Kaya, to her ex amid her battle with postpartum depression and addiction and Wladimir moved the toddler to his native Ukraine
The documents state the purpose of the filing is to ensure Wladimir ‘may receive, manage and hold, on Kaya’s behalf, the assets to which Kaya is entitled from Hayden’s probate estate.’
He noted there is no personal representative to safeguard the interests of Panettiere’s estate.
The petition further claims that before Panettiere’s death, additional security measures were put in place at her home due to an unknown individual that had ‘gained unauthorized access to Hayden’s property.’
Locks were changed and, per the documents, ‘storage units containing designer clothing and accessories worn to public appearances have been relocated as a precaution.’
‘Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expected that the individual will continue to try and misappropriate property belonging to Hayden’s Estate,’ the petition reads.
The documents also state Klitschko ‘has been informed that certain items of personal property belonging to Hayden, including jewelry, have disappeared or remain unaccounted for.
‘Some items are currently in the custody of law enforcement in connection with the ongoing investigation. It is essential that an Administrator of Hayden’s Estate be appointed to marshal the missing assets and interface with law enforcement.’
Per the documents, Klitschko alleges federal agents accessed Panettiere’s home as part of an ongoing investigation and removed her property.
To protect Kaya’s inheritance as the sole beneficiary of Panettiere’s reported $6million estate and ensure Panettiere’s possessions are returned to her after the investigation into her death, Klitschko filed a petition last week to become the temporary guardian of Kaya’s estate
The documents also state Klitschko ‘has been informed that certain items of personal property belonging to Hayden, including jewelry, have disappeared or remain unaccounted for’
‘It is urgent and essential that Wladimir be immediately appointed Temporary Guardian of Kaya’s Estate, to afford Wladimir the necessary standing to file Hayden’s Probate Petition, and the power to nominate a proposed Administrator of Hayden’s Estate,’ the documents read.
‘Without an immediate appointment for these purposes, there is a high probability that property belonging to Hayden’s Estate may be lost, damaged or dissipated before a duly appointed personal representative can be in place to protect it.’
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Klitschko and Panettiere for comment.
The former couple met at a book launch in 2009. After two years of dating, they split up in 2011, before rekindling their relationship two years later.
In October 2013, they were engaged, with the actress giving birth to their daughter, Kaya, the following December. However, it was confirmed in 2018 that the couple had split again but remained on amicable terms.
Later that year, Panettiere announced she had made the ‘difficult decision’ to sign full custody of Kaya to her ex.
The widely discussed move came after Panettiere fell into a deep depression, which she said made her ‘feel nothing’, and led to her ‘turning to wine’ and ultimately being sent to rehab for both depression and substance abuse.
Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson (above together) and his brother, Zach, were both at the scene when the actress was pronounced dead
In her final interview in May, she spoke to Dear Mome about her choice, saying: ‘It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make. I was going through a really challenging time in my life.’
Panettiere began acting as a child, appearing in soap operas, then gained wider recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember the Titans with Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar’s 1998 film A Bug’s Life.
Panettiere later found fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes before starring as country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on Nashville.
She earned two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress on the show, while her singing produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
Panettiere’s film credits include 2006’s Bring It On: All or Nothing, the comedy-drama film Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.
Last week, Panettiere’s cause of death was confirmed by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.
A spokesman told The Daily Mail: ‘The cause of death has been ruled as toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol and Quetiapine. The manner of death has been ruled an accident.
Panettiere is remembered for her role as Claire Bennet on the hit NBC series Heroes
She played Juliette Barnes on the ABC show Nashville, releasing a number of her own songs
‘This case is administratively closed by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.’
Methocarbamol is a prescription muscle relaxant used to treat short-term muscle pain, while Quetiapine, commonly known by the brand name Seroquel, is an antipsychotic prescription medication used to treat conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.
Alprazolam, known as Xanax, is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders and 4-ANPP is a chemical used as a main building block to make illegal fentanyl.
Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach, were both at the scene when the actress was pronounced dead. An investigation into her death is ongoing.