Hayden Panettiere’s ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko files for temporary guardianship of her estate
Hayden Panettiere and Wladimir Klitschko attend the Giorgio Armani show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week Spring Summer 2014 (Getty Images)
Wladimir Klitschko has filed for temporary guardianship of his late ex-fiancée Hayden Panettiere’s estate on behalf of their 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, who is her mother’s sole heir.
Klitschko, 50, filed the urgent petition on 24 September in Los Angeles, asking to be appointed temporary guardian so he can begin the probate process and nominate an administrator for Panettiere’s estate.
According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, he argues that the decision needs to be made immediately because there is a risk that property belonging to the estate could be “lost, damaged or dissipated” before a personal representative is appointed.
Klitschko raises concerns about missing property
In the filing, Klitschko claims that Panettiere had hired security for her Los Angeles home before her death after becoming concerned that someone had gained unauthorised access to the property. He says the locks were changed and some valuables, including designer clothing, were moved.
Klitschko further alleges that he has been informed that personal belongings, including jewellery, have disappeared or remain unaccounted for. He also says he believes non-family members, previously connected to Panettiere, accessed and destroyed emails belonging to the actress. These are allegations contained in Klitschko’s court filing and have not been established by a court.
He says some of Panettiere’s belongings are currently in the custody of authorities as part of the investigation into her death, but wants an estate representative to be able to account for missing assets and liaise with law enforcement.
Klitschko argues that the urgency of the petition directly affects Kaya because she is the sole beneficiary of her mother’s estate. He is also seeking to ensure that Panettiere’s Los Angeles property can be retained once authorities have completed their investigation.
A hearing on the guardianship is scheduled for 8 October, per the published court timetable.
Panettiere and Klitschko met in 2008 and became engaged in 2013. They welcomed Kaya in 2014 before separating in 2018, when Klitschko was granted full custody of their daughter.
Panettiere died on 16 August 2026 aged 36 after being found unresponsive in a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, and an investigation into her death remains ongoing. South Carolina officials previously said her death was ruled an accident after the toxic effects of fentanyl and other drugs.
Panettiere spoke about custody before her death
In her May 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere discussed the difficult decision to give Klitschko full custody of Kaya, describing it as “the most gut-wrenching experience of my life.” She also wrote about her experiences with postpartum depression, addiction and a traumatic childbirth.
Panettiere had previously pushed back against suggestions that she had simply “given away” her daughter, explaining that she sought treatment for her own health and believed the custody arrangement was in Kaya’s best interests.
Klitschko’s latest filing does not concern custody of Kaya, but rather the legal administration and protection of the estate she inherited from her mother. The petition will determine whether he can temporarily act on Kaya’s behalf while the estate’s affairs are resolved.
