Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Dannielynn declared Anna Nicole Smith’s sole heir

Larry Birkhead and DannielynnTragic Anna Nicole Smith's 18-month-old daughter Dannielynn has been declared the sole heir to her estate.

Anna Nicole's lawyer lover Howard K. Stern turned to the courts to clarify the ex-Playboy model's final wishes as her will was written in 2001, five years before Dannielynn was born.

An LA judge also established a trust in Danielynn's name and named Stern and her father Larry Birkhead as co-trustees.

Little Dannielynn could stand to inherit millions from the fortune of her mum's late husband J. Howard Marshall.

But today's ruling will not affect the heated court battle over the billionaire's cash.

Marshall left much of his fortune to Anna Nicole in his will, but his family is contesting it.

Stern's lawyer Bruce S. Ross said after the hearing at Los Angeles Superior Court: "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."

Anna Nicole died in Florida in February 2007 of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. She was 39.

When her will was drafted she had one child, son Daniel, who died aged 20 three days after Dannielynn was born.

The will states that "although she did not expect to have any children in the future, if she did, she wanted them to share equally in the trust created for Daniel"

Anna Nicole did not update her will in the five months between Daniel's death, Dannielynn's birth and her own death, according to a petition lodged with the court by Stern.

Stern and Birkhead were not in court to hear the judge's ruling.

By Iain Burchell, Mar 04 2008 © Copyright 2008 - Showbiz Spy

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