Hayden Panettiere's Daughter, 11, Appears at Hearing Over Late Star's Estate
Hayden Panettiere's 11-year-old daughter appeared remotely at a Los Angeles court hearing Thursday, as a judge handed temporary control of the late actress's estate to the girl's father, former boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.
The preteen, who is Panettiere's sole heir, briefly joined the virtual hearing alongside her dad. When the judge asked whether it was her, she confirmed, "Yes, that was me," Parade reported.
What the Judge Decided
Judge Stephanie Santoro granted Klitschko temporary guardianship over his daughter's estate until a permanent administrator is appointed.
The ruling allows Klitschko to work with law enforcement to recover missing property, handle Panettiere's outstanding tax filings and move forward with probate proceedings. His temporary authority lasts until the next hearing on December 7. The judge said the girl would not need to attend that hearing.
The decision follows the urgent petition Klitschko filed last week asking the court to step in.
Concerns Over Missing Jewelry
Klitschko's attorney, Diane Park, told the judge that some of Panettiere's jewelry may have been sold to pawn shops after her death. His team alleged that an unidentified person who had previously been associated with the actress took personal belongings and tried to sell them. That person has not been named, and the claims have not been proven.
Klitschko's filing also said federal law enforcement agents had taken some of Panettiere's belongings as part of an investigation. The petition warned that "there is a high probability that property belonging to Hayden's Estate may be lost, damaged or dissipated," according to MEAWW.
Klitschko said he has already paid $30,000 of his own money toward Panettiere's taxes, noting that her 2025 state and federal returns were due October 15.
Panettiere's Sudden Death
Panettiere died August 16 at age 36 in Greenville, South Carolina. Emergency responders found her unresponsive in an apartment where she had been staying with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. Responders were called shortly before 2 p.m., and she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.
The Greenville County Coroner's Office later confirmed her cause of death as the toxic effects of fentanyl and other medications and ruled it accidental. Reports later revealed she had secretly entered rehab just weeks before she died.
Panettiere began acting as a young child and appeared in films such as "Remember the Titans" before rising to fame as cheerleader Claire Bennet on the NBC series "Heroes." She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes on "Nashville."
Over the years, she spoke openly about her mental health and her struggles with substance use. Her candor about postpartum depression, which she experienced after her daughter's birth, helped many mothers feel less alone. She often encouraged fans dealing with similar struggles to seek help.
A Close Bond Despite the Split
Panettiere and Klitschko began dating in 2009, got engaged in 2013 and welcomed their daughter in December 2014. They separated in 2018, and Klitschko took full custody of their daughter, who has been raised in Ukraine.
Despite the distance, Panettiere described a warm relationship with her daughter and her ex. "I have an incredible relationship with both of them," she told Us Weekly in May, calling Klitschko someone she was grateful for.
Because the girl is a minor, the court is overseeing how her inheritance is managed. The case will return to court on December 7, when the question of who will permanently manage the estate is expected to come up again. The value of Panettiere's estate has not been made public.
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