Hayden Panettiere’s ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko is asking a Los Angeles court for temporary authority to protect their 11-year-old daughter’s inheritance, citing allegations that outsiders destroyed the late actress’s emails and that jewelry and other personal property have disappeared or cannot be located.
Klitschko filed the petition September 24, 2026, in Los Angeles County probate court on behalf of their daughter, Kaya, Panettiere’s sole heir. He is seeking appointment as temporary guardian of her estate, arguing the move is “urgent and essential” to prevent her mother’s property from being lost, damaged, or dissipated before a permanent representative is selected.
The appointment would allow Klitschko to initiate probate proceedings on Kaya’s behalf and nominate an administrator to secure Panettiere’s assets, determine what property may be missing, and coordinate with law enforcement.
According to the filing, Klitschko has been informed that non-family members previously connected to Panettiere accessed and destroyed her emails. He also says he was told that personal property belonging to the actress, including jewelry, has disappeared or cannot be located.
The petition does not identify the people allegedly involved or specify what evidence supports the claims. Klitschko states that the allegations are based on information he received rather than his own firsthand knowledge.
Concerns about Panettiere’s property began before her death. Klitschko says he and Panettiere hired a security company after they became worried that an unidentified person had gained unauthorized access to her Los Angeles home.
After Panettiere died, the locks were changed, and storage units containing designer clothing and accessories she wore during public appearances were relocated as a precaution, according to the petition. Klitschko alleges the unidentified person may continue trying to misappropriate property belonging to the estate.
Some of Panettiere’s property is also in the custody of federal investigators. Klitschko argues that an estate representative is needed to coordinate with authorities and secure the return of those belongings when investigators no longer need them.
The guardianship request concerns Kaya’s financial interests rather than custody of the child. Because she is a minor, Klitschko is seeking authority to act on her behalf during the probate process and protect the property she is entitled to inherit from her mother.
Panettiere, known for her roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” died August 16, 2026, at age 36 in Greenville, South Carolina. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office ruled her death an accident caused by the toxic effects of fentanyl and other drugs. Authorities have said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death remains open.
Klitschko is seeking the temporary appointment while the court determines who will permanently administer Panettiere’s estate.
