Anna Nicole’s Baby Daughter Awarded Entire Estate
March 4th, 2008
A judge has ruled that Anna Nicole Smith’s young daughter will inherit the former Playboy model’s entire estate, after the 18-month old was named sole heir today by the Superior Court.
Dannielynn Hope was named sole heir by Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff, who also set up a trust in the girl’s name.
Dannielynn’s father, Larry Birkhead, and Smith’s executor, Harry Stern, will be co-trustees.
Beckloff granted a petition filed by Stern, who wanted to clarify Smith’s intentions towards her daughter.
Smith drafted a will in 2001, five years before Danneilynn was born, that left her estate to her then-only son, Daniel. However, it said the assets in Daniel’s trust should be shared equally if she had future children.
Daniel was 20 when he died in 2006, three days after Dannielynn was born.
"We and Mr Stern always believed that Anna Nicole never intended to disinherit her daughter," Stern’s lawyer, Bruce Ross, said after the hearing.
"I’m pleased to say this chapter in the saga is closed."
Dannielynn could inherit tens of millions of dollars if the estate wins an ongoing court fight over a will by Smith’s wealthy second husband, J Howard Marshall, which left much of his fortune to the model. His relatives have been fighting the will for several years.
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Photo courtesy of Inidcan.
