Williams' Dad Questions Ledger's Will

(CBS)  Michelle Williams' father has joined the controversy over Heath Ledger's estate.

Larry Williams, a top futures trader and author, is questioning a will filed in New York that claims the late actor was worth only $145,000 at the time of his death. He wants the actor's father, Kim, to explain how an in-demand Hollywood actor could be worth so little.

"It's real simple: just come clean with everything," Williams told The Sunday Telegraph. "It's so easy to resolve this. (Kim Ledger) just has to say where the income went and where the assets are. I'm certain that there is grieving in the Ledger family but (lawyers for) Kim have already filed papers in New York, so it seems like it's time to be transparent about it."

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Photos: On Losing Ledger

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Williams, who admittedly doesn't have a close relationship with his daughter, wants to know why she and the Ledger family didn't "sit down and sort all this out" before the court documents were filed.

"I have no idea what Heath Ledger was worth (but) they certainly haven't stated all of the assets to the court," Williams said.

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Photos: Services For Heath Ledger

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The will was drafted in 2003, two years before the birth of Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams' two-year-old daughter, Matilda Rose. The actor named his father, mother and sisters as beneficiaries, but Matilda Rose is named as "an interested party" in the documents, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

Williams isn't the only one questioning Kim Ledger's handling of his son's estate.

Earlier this month, Kim Ledger's estranged brothers claimed he mismanaged the $2 million estate of their grandfather, Sir Frank Ledger.

One of the brothers, Hayden Ledger, said that Larry Williams asked him if Kim Ledger was capable of managing the actor's estate.

"I just said 'No, not if he handles it like ours,'" he told People.

Larry Williams has financial and legal troubles of his own. He has been in Australia since 2006 fighting extradtion back to the U.S. to face tax evasion charges. His next hearing is scheduled for August. Williams denies the charges.
By Melissa Castellanos

[TennMom1]

To be perfectly blunt, Heath Ledger''s estate is none of Larry Williams'' business and Williams hasn''t a legal leg to stand on, even IF his "concern" for Matilda is behind his demands. Truth be told, if Michelle Williams had put her daughter''s future first, she would have married Ledger, and if Ledger had put his daughter''s future first, he would have changed his will. I don''t believe the inaction on either of their parts was born of malice. They were both young and felt invincible, as most young people are wont to do. They did not prepare for their future as a couple with a child because they thought they had "all the time in the world." Now the estranged grandfather wants his piece of the pie, and I don''t believe he wants it for Matilda. Rather, he wants it for himself.

[dorine3]

I just hope that this does not turn into a "sideshow", if only for the baby''''s sake. I don''''t understand why Heath didn''''t act responsibly enough to include Matilda after her birth. What was he thinking???????
Posted by briansgirl2 at 03:31 PM : Mar 25, 2008

Well Brian''s girl, it is obvious that Heath thought he would live longer than he did, I believe this was only an oversight on his behalf. Do you have your "ducks" in order, I didn''t worry about that until I was in my 40''s.

[dorine3]

I agree with Mr. Wiliams, after all, he is the grandfather of Matilda Rose. I think the courts need to step up to the plate on this one and insure that her claim to her father''s possessions and holdings are considered.

[briansgirl2]

I just hope that this does not turn into a "sideshow", if only for the baby''s sake. I don''t understand why Heath didn''t act responsibly enough to include Matilda after her birth. What was he thinking???????

[lil_d3vil]

As Kim Ledger was untrustworthy while plundering his own uncles 2.6 million estate sending it into ruin, its only the right thing to ask all these questions.
Funny thing is that Hollywood put a claim out that the actors estate was worth millions..
So somethings a bit fishy here and as Kim''s own brothers are questioning his actions as they saw what he''s done in the past as to others money {Their Uncle} and Kim being a greedy git as some say he used and transfered much of the uncles money into his own pockets,so its GOOD that others want to see the actors estate be sorted out on the up & up.

[noirceur]

Putting everything aside,as I see it,Kim Ledger dosen''t have to explain anything to this man.He should keep his nose where it belongs,in his own business.