Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter has been named the sole heir of her late mother’s estate.
Popular on LondonNet
Los Angeles judge Mitchell L. Beckloff ruled yesterday (04.03.08) that 18-month-old Dannielynn will inherit the late model-and-actress’ fortune and a trust has been set up in her name.
Anna Nicole’s former lovers Howard K. Stern and Larry Birkhead – who is Dannielynn’s father – were named co-trustees.
Stern, who was also the Playmate’s former lawyer and executor of her estate, filed court papers last October demanding Dannielynn be declared sole beneficiary. The child was not named in the late model’s will because it had been drafted five years before Dannielynn was born.
Stern’s lawyer Bruce S. Ross said after yesterday’s hearing: “We and Mr. Stern always believed that Anna Nicole never intended to disinherit her daughter. I’m pleased to say this chapter in the saga is closed.”
Dannielynn could also inherit an estimated UKP240 million from the estate of Anna Nicole’s late husband, billionaire J. Howard Marshall.
She married the ageing Texan oil tycoon in 1994, but he died the following year. Marshall left most of his fortune to the model, but his relatives have been contesting the will in an ongoing court battle.
Anna Nicole died aged just 39 after being found unconscious in a Hollywood hotel room in February last year.
