Wladimir Klitschko, the former fiancé of Hayden Panettiere, says he plans to cover the late actress’ tax bill with his own money so her estate does not face additional penalties.
Panettiere died at age 36 on August 16 at a home in Greenville, South Carolina. Officials determined that her accidental death resulted from the “toxic effects” of several drugs, including fentanyl.
Her only surviving family member is her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with Klitschko, 50, during their nine-year relationship.
Kaya is reportedly the sole beneficiary of Panettiere’s estimated $6 million estate. Last month, Klitschko filed a petition in Los Angeles seeking temporary guardianship of his daughter’s inheritance and financial affairs.
In a filing dated October 1 and obtained by Our News Outlet, Klitschko stated that he “is informed and believes” Panettiere’s 2025 federal and state tax returns are due under an extension on October 15, 2026. The documents estimate that roughly $30,000 in taxes remains unpaid.
According to the filing, Klitschko is concerned that missing the deadline could expose the estate to “unnecessary interest and failure to file penalties,” creating a direct financial loss for Kaya, identified as Panettiere’s sole intestate heir.
Hayden Panettiere’s former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko says he will personally pay the late actress’ substantial tax bill to help shield her estate from penalties. The pair are pictured in 2011
Panettiere transferred full custody of daughter Kaya to Klitschko in 2018 while struggling with postpartum depression and addiction. He later took their young daughter to live in his native Ukraine
Klitschko said he “intends to advance his own funds to pay the tax which is due” and would seek repayment after the probate estate is opened, provided the court grants any necessary approval.
Our News Outlet has reached out to representatives for Panettiere and Klitschko, as well as Klitschko’s attorney, for comment but has not received a response.
The tax issue emerged as Klitschko pursues broader legal protections for Panettiere’s estate. In an earlier temporary guardianship petition, he claimed that personal belongings, including jewelry, appeared to be missing. In documents filed October 5, he alleged that someone formerly associated with the actress had sold some of her possessions to a pawn shop.
The filing obtained by Our News Outlet states: “Petitioner is informed and believes that a non-family member previously connected to Hayden sold certain items belonging to Hayden, believed to include jewelry, to a pawn shop.”
The document adds that the pawn shop has refused to provide details about the items unless contacted by law enforcement.
Without police involvement, the filing warns, there remains “a real and continuing risk” that other belongings believed to belong to Panettiere could be sold, transferred or otherwise lost beyond recovery.
In an October 1 filing obtained by Our News Outlet, Klitschko said he was “informed and believes” Panettiere’s 2025 federal and state tax returns are due under an extension on October 15, 2026, with approximately $30,000 reportedly owed
Klitschko said he “intends to advance his own funds to pay the tax which is due” and seek reimbursement after the probate estate is opened, subject to court approval. The former couple are pictured together in 2010
Klitschko has also asked that any guardianship appointment authorize him to “request and authorize law enforcement investigation into the recovery of Hayden’s property believed to have been misappropriated.”
The request came roughly a week after Klitschko took what he described as an urgent legal step to safeguard Kaya’s inheritance, citing concerns that Panettiere’s property could be vulnerable.
When Kaya was three in 2018, Panettiere gave Klitschko full custody of their daughter while dealing with postpartum depression and addiction. Klitschko subsequently moved Kaya to Ukraine, where he is originally from.
The filing obtained by Our News Outlet states: “Kaya is a US citizen, residing abroad with her father, Wladimir. Hayden, a US citizen and resident of California, died intestate on August 16, 2026.”
‘Although Kaya is not a resident of California, this court has jurisdiction over the guardianship of Kaya’s estate because, as such heir, Kaya is entitled to the entirety of the assets subject to Hayden’s probate administration in California.’
The documents state the purpose of the filing is to ensure Wladimir ‘may receive, manage and hold, on Kaya’s behalf, the assets to which Kaya is entitled from Hayden’s probate estate.’
He noted there is no personal representative to safeguard the interests of Panettiere’s estate.
The petition further claims that before Panettiere’s death, additional security measures were put in place at her home due to an unknown individual that had ‘gained unauthorized access to Hayden’s property.’
Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson (above together) and his brother, Zach, were both at the scene when the actress was pronounced dead
Locks were changed and, per the documents, ‘storage units containing designer clothing and accessories worn to public appearances have been relocated as a precaution.’
‘Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expected that the individual will continue to try and misappropriate property belonging to Hayden’s Estate,’ the petition reads.
The documents also state Klitschko ‘has been informed that certain items of personal property belonging to Hayden, including jewelry, have disappeared or remain unaccounted for.
‘Some items are currently in the custody of law enforcement in connection with the ongoing investigation. It is essential that an Administrator of Hayden’s Estate be appointed to marshal the missing assets and interface with law enforcement.’
Per the documents, Klitschko alleges federal agents accessed Panettiere’s home as part of an ongoing investigation and removed her property.
‘It is urgent and essential that Wladimir be immediately appointed Temporary Guardian of Kaya’s Estate, to afford Wladimir the necessary standing to file Hayden’s Probate Petition, and the power to nominate a proposed Administrator of Hayden’s Estate,’ the documents read.
‘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.’
Panettiere is remembered for her role as Claire Bennet on the hit NBC series Heroes
She played Juliette Barnes on the ABC show Nashville, releasing a number of her own songs
The former couple met at a book launch in 2009. After two years of dating, they split up in 2011, before rekindling their relationship two years later.
In October 2013, they were engaged, with the actress giving birth to their daughter Kaya in December 2014. However, it was confirmed in 2018 that the couple had split again but remained on amicable terms.
Later that year, Panettiere announced she had made the ‘difficult decision’ to sign full custody of Kaya to her ex.
The widely discussed move came after Panettiere fell into a deep depression, which she said made her ‘feel nothing,’ and led to her ‘turning to wine’ and ultimately being sent to rehab for both depression and substance abuse.
In her final interview in May, she spoke to Dear Mome about her choice, saying: ‘It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make. I was going through a really challenging time in my life.’
Panettiere began acting as a child, appearing in soap operas, then gained wider recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember the Titans with Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar’s 1998 film A Bug’s Life.
Panettiere later found fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes before starring as country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on Nashville.
She earned two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress on the show, while her singing produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
Panettiere’s film credits include 2006’s Bring It On: All or Nothing, the comedy-drama film Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.
