Matilda left out of Heath Ledger's will

Monday, 10 March 2008

Heath Ledger's family have promised to look after his ex-wife and daughter, after the late actor left them out of his will.

The 'Brokeback Mountain' star - who died of an accidental drug overdose in January - left his entire estate to his parents and three sisters in the document signed in his native Australia in April 2003.

Heath made the will before he met and married actress Michelle Williams, who gave birth to their daughter Matilda Rose, who is now two.

Heath's father Kim has now promised to provide for Michelle and Matilda.

He said: "Matilda is our absolute priority and Michelle is an integral part of our family. They will be taken care of and that is how Heath would want it to be."

Out of context

Heath's representative Mara Buxbaum added: "The story is getting taken out of context and the media is speculating that this means Matilda and Michelle will not be taken care of. I want to make it very clear nothing could be farther from the truth."

A series of documents filed in the Manhattan Surrogate Court revealed Heath had less than $145,000 in New York assets at the time the will was written, including a $25,000 Toyota Prius hybrid car and $20,000 in furniture and fixtures.

However, the true size of his estate is much larger, and is thought to include the Brooklyn townhouse he shared with Michelle during their relationship, which ended last year, as well as any property and savings located in Australia.

The bulk of the estate will be handled in Australia, and the 'I'm Not There' actor's lawyer Harry Corn has asked a judge to seal all documents relating to the case to protect the privacy of his family.

Court documents also reveal the Ledger family spent $39,000 with the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home on his memorial service in Perth, including $25,000 on his casket and $450 for 40 certified copies of his death certificate.