LOS ANGELES, United States — Former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko has asked a California court for temporary authority over the estate interests of his 11-year-old daughter with Hayden Panettiere, saying property belonging to the late actress could disappear or be damaged before a permanent administrator is appointed.
Klitschko, Panettiere’s former fiancé and the father of Kaya, filed the petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court after Panettiere died in August at 36.
Kaya is Panettiere’s sole heir, according to the court filing.
The request does not seek to change custody arrangements for the girl, who has lived with Klitschko for most of her life. Instead, it asks the court to appoint him temporary guardian of Kaya’s estate so that he can act on her behalf while Panettiere’s assets move through probate.
The petition was filed on Thursday, September 24, 2026, and became public several days later after being first reported by TMZ.
A hearing is scheduled for October 8.
Filing Raises Concerns About Missing Property
Klitschko’s lawyers told the court that immediate action was needed because no personal representative had yet been appointed to oversee Panettiere’s estate.
The filing cites several concerns, including property taken by federal agents during an investigation connected to Panettiere’s death, valuables that are said to be missing, and allegations that unauthorised people gained access to her Los Angeles residence.
“Without an immediate appointment for these purposes, there is a high probability that property belonging to Hayden’s Estate may be lost, damaged or dissipated before a duly appointed personal representative can be in place to protect it,” the petition says.
Klitschko is seeking the authority to deal with investigators over property removed during the federal inquiry and to ensure that any seized belongings are eventually returned to the estate.
The filing does not accuse federal authorities of wrongdoing.
It also says Panettiere and Klitschko had arranged private security for her residence before her death because of concerns that an unidentified person had entered the property without permission.
According to the petition, there is concern that the same person could attempt to take property belonging to the estate.
The allegations concerning unauthorised access and missing valuables have not been adjudicated.
Daughter Is Sole Heir
Kaya was born in 2014 during Panettiere and Klitschko’s relationship.
She later went to live full-time with her father in Ukraine, and Klitschko has had custody of her for most of her childhood.
Because Kaya is a minor, she cannot personally manage property inherited from her mother. Klitschko’s petition asks the California court to give him limited temporary authority until the probate court can put a permanent estate representative in place.
The filing stresses that the requested appointment is intended to preserve the assets rather than settle their eventual distribution.
Kaya is expected to inherit Panettiere’s estate.
Klitschko, 50, is a former Olympic gold medallist and world heavyweight champion who held major boxing titles during a professional career that spanned more than two decades.
He and Panettiere began dating in 2009 and became engaged in 2013.
Panettiere Died From Accidental Overdose
Panettiere died on August 16 after she was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina.
A coroner later determined that her death resulted from the toxic effects of several drugs, including fentanyl, and ruled it accidental.
The former child actress became widely known for playing Claire Bennet in the television series Heroes and later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville.
She had publicly discussed addiction and postpartum depression, including in a memoir released earlier in 2026.
Panettiere’s father told investigators that she had intended to travel to Ukraine to visit Kaya within days of her death.
The federal investigation referenced in Klitschko’s court filing remains separate from the probate proceedings.
Klitschko’s request now places the immediate focus on preserving Panettiere’s property until the court decides who will have permanent legal responsibility for administering her estate.
