31. Anna Nicole Smith didn't update her will and the court just awarded everything to Dannielynn, who wasn't born yet when the will was drawn up. Of course the situation was different because her will left everything to her son Danny who was deceased also. Anyway, these things can be challenged in court and a minor child, born after the will was issued, will almost always win. Fortunately, if the Ledgers do the right thing, they won't have to go through all of this and give a big chunk to the attorneys.

Posted at 12:17AM on Mar 9th 2008 by no way

32. I thought it was pretty retarded when the media was trying to make it sound like he was sooooo horrible for leaving everything to his parents. It's not like the guy thought he was going to die or anything, and it's not like the family has squabbled with Michelle over anything. He probably just felt at the time he wrote his will years ago, before Matilda was even born mind you, that his family would make the best decisions if he passed. I would have done the same thing. I'm with you #5.

Posted at 12:34AM on Mar 9th 2008 by Margot

33. Hope the Grandparents are sincere when they say they will take care of Matilda. Our father, a lawyer had his affairs in order and during his final days our stepmother, a Palau native and non citizen had her lawyer in Atascadero CA make up a will and 2nd amendment turning EVERYTHING over to her and her daughter from another marriage and leaving NOTHING TO US The forensic reports shows Dad was 100% incapacitated. And we received a letter from her lawyer saying she didn't feel comfortable talking to myself or my brother. She didn't have trouble talking to HER DAUGHTER 4 years later and we are still fighting for what our father wanted. We didn't know our father was sick because she never called us to tell us he was sick let alone dying and the lawyer was 2000 miles away

Like I said I hope they are sincere but money does funny things to people. Hope they do the right thing

Posted at 3:22AM on Mar 9th 2008 by Nanci Meek

34. You know, I hope that his family wasn't hoping for vast sums in his will. According to the New York Daily News he had $190,000 in cash and assets.

Posted at 4:14AM on Mar 9th 2008 by Jeri

35. People are astonishingly stupid. First, why was Heath Ledger's will made public? Why? It's nobody's goddamn business. Second, Heath was too young to even think about a will. Third, the fact that he had a will doesn't mean he updated it every nanosecond. Like Go Sox said, I hope some of the stupid freaks on this sight have their wills in order and have all their beneficiaries all lined up, and I hope that if they break up with their new wife/husband/lover, that they will instantly update their wills, and/or the second that they become aware that they're going to be a parent that they stop everything and change their wills. Fourth, apparently everyone on TMZ comment boards knows how much money Michelle Williams makes. How do your morons know that she has "enough of her own money"? Do you have passwords to her online accounts? It is just astonishing how incredibly stupid and judgmental people are. I hate to break it to you, but if Heath's parents decided not to give any money to Michelle, that would be their business, not yours. Why don't you leeches think about your own lives and stop worrying about how Heath divided up his money? Oh, I'm sorry; you don't have any lives to worry about -- that's why you are commenting on whether or not Heath did the right thing. Invest in your own lives people, and you might find some meaning in them. But I know I am asking the impossible when people will now spend the rest of their lives worrying about whether Matilda Rose has enough to eat.

Posted at 4:34AM on Mar 9th 2008 by DeeCee53

36. Being young is no excuse for not having a will if you have children. Even if you have no estate to leave your children, you should make sure guardians are named for your child. In this case, the child has a living mother to care for her, but both of these parents could just have easily perished in a car accident at the same time. Without a will, a court judge has no way of knowing your wishes, and your child could end up with the last person on earth that you would want raising your child. Even a total stranger could petition the court for custody of a child. Custody battles are fought every day over children who have lost parents who didn't take the time to make out a will. It's just lazy and wrong to not make out a will when you become a parent making provisions for your child.

Also, I think there should be requirements for any minor child to be provided for from an estate whether there is a will or not, Parents are responsible for their minor children in life, and death shouldn't "let them off the hook." If there is an estate, it should be required that at least a portion go to any minor child to help pay for their upbringing.

Posted at 4:52AM on Mar 9th 2008 by Sabrina

37. Yea, right. They are going to help...for sure. That is why they fled the country!!!

Michelle and Matilda will never see a dime from the estate..

Posted at 5:03AM on Mar 9th 2008 by IRS Party

38. shouldn't matilda get it all?maybe give the family a token but get matilta a lawyer and if her lawyers wish to give heath's family a token fine,but matilda is his heir

Posted at 5:08AM on Mar 9th 2008 by killed the blog again

39. DeeCee53 wrote:
36. People are astonishingly stupid. First, why was Heath Ledger's will made public? Why? It's nobody's goddamn business. Second, Heath was too young to even think about a will. Third, the fact that he had a will doesn't mean he updated it every nanosecond. Like Go Sox said, I hope some of the stupid freaks on this sight have their wills in order and have all their beneficiaries all lined up, and I hope that if they break up with their new wife/husband/lover, that they will instantly update their wills, and/or the second that they become aware that they're going to be a parent that they stop everything and change their wills.

First: All wills are a matter of public record. You can go down to any probate office and look up any will that has been filed in that jurisdiction.

Second and Third: He wasn't too young to think about a will. He should have and could have updated his will in a timely manner. His child isn't a newborn. He had plenty of time to update his will, as ANY parent should. It only takes a few minutes to do it. I am 50 years old, and I've updated my will many times over the years as there have been changes in my life. Beneficiaries have to be added; other beneficiaries have died. When you are a parent, you can't afford to NOT keep your will updated. It's the responsible thing to do.

Posted at 5:14AM on Mar 9th 2008 by Sabrina

40. To Sabrina:

I guess I was thinking living trusts, because in my experience, it takes more than a few minutes to update them. It also costs at least $250/hour to see a qualified attorney who deals with living trusts, unless you are qualified or able to remake your own will, get it notarized, and always have someone in your corner who is going to handle your paperwork after you die. I also agree totally with: " I think there should be requirements for any minor child to be provided for from an estate whether there is a will or not, Parents are responsible for their minor children in life, and death shouldn't "let them off the hook." If there is an estate, it should be required that at least a portion go to any minor child to help pay for their upbringing." You are right. There shouldn't be any question that his daughter inherit a portion, if not all, of his estate.

I guess the reality of his death should really strike a chord with all young people to get their acts together and have their wills drawn up, even if they don't have much estate. However, much, much more importantly... they should have clear plans on funeral arrangements and a life insurance policy in case God forbid. After my best friend's mother died and there was much infighting amongst he, his sister and their father over what type of coffin the mother should be buried in, my parents immediately went out and bought plots and had a very clear list of what they did and did not want for their funerals. Now that they are both gone, I am so grateful they did that. I literally picked up a phone and called the mortuary and gave them their account number and the rest was handled perfectly. We don't want to accept that we must die someday, but if Heath Ledger's death taught anyone anything, it's that no one can foresee tomorrow and it's never too early to be prepared. Thank you Sabrina for pointing out some valuable things.

Posted at 7:06AM on Mar 9th 2008 by DeeCee53

41. the kid will end up in a grave just like her father and eveyone else so what makes them so damn special? .... thats right nothing.... so like i asked before who cares?

Posted at 7:36AM on Mar 9th 2008 by f___ you

42. all the money in the world will never replace her daddy.....it is so sad for the sweet lil darlin!

Posted at 8:22AM on Mar 9th 2008 by elizabeth

43. I am sure, or can only hope, as his only heir, an attorney ad litem will be set up for probate and Michelle will get something like a trust set up for her daughter.

Now, I'm sure they have a "GREAT" relationship right now. BUT, it's a long time before Matilda turns 18 and a long time for a mother/father-in-law type of relationship to STAY on the straight and narrow and she may marry, remarry and they may not always see eye to eye on Matilda's upbringing. (I myself am not allowed to see my deceased son's son, I know. They had a filty house, I offered to help shampoo the carpet and bam, I'm no longer in the mix.)

So.... She must get that trust set up NOW!!!!! Then it's done. Everyone can go on and money isn't a part of the relationship.

Posted at 9:02AM on Mar 9th 2008 by DNR87

44. Heath's family should give everything or at least the majority of his estate to his daughter. Anything less than that is just not right. Isnt she the next of Kin. Sure buy the parents a house, but give the rest to Matilda

Posted at 9:10AM on Mar 9th 2008 by MATILDA SHOULD GET ALL OF IT

45. What kind of fool doesn't amend a will after they have a kid?

Posted at 9:14AM on Mar 9th 2008 by Gem