Kaya, the 11-year-old daughter of Hayden Panettiere and Wladimir Klitschko, appeared remotely at a court hearing Thursday as her father was granted temporary guardianship of the late actress’s estate.
Panettiere died at age 36 on August 16 at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. Her death was ruled accidental and attributed to the “toxic effects” of multiple drugs, including fentanyl.
She is survived by Kaya, whom she welcomed during her nine-year relationship with Klitschko, her former fiancé, who is 50.
Last month, Klitschko petitioned a Los Angeles court to become the temporary guardian of Kaya’s estate. The move was intended to protect the inheritance of Panettiere’s only child, who is the sole beneficiary of the actress’s reported $6 million estate.
The former heavyweight champion said items belonging to Panettiere were being taken by federal agents investigating her death, as well as by an unidentified nonfamily member who allegedly wanted to sell them. He argued that no one was currently positioned to recover the property on Kaya’s behalf.
In 2018, Panettiere transferred full custody of Kaya to Klitschko while dealing with postpartum depression and addiction. Klitschko subsequently moved their daughter to his native Ukraine.
Hayden Panettiere and Wladimir Klitschko’s daughter Kaya, 11, appeared remotely at a court hearing Thursday, where her father was granted temporary guardianship of the late star’s estate.
Panettiere died at 36 on August 16 at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, from the “toxic effects” of multiple drugs, including fentanyl. Her death was accidental. Above, she is pictured with Klitschko in 2011.
Klitschko and Kaya joined the Los Angeles County court hearing by videoconference. They spoke only to identify themselves, and Kaya was the only one visible on camera as she sat at a table in front of curtains.
Judge Stephanie Santoro appointed Klitschko temporary guardian of Kaya’s estate until a permanent administrator can be named.
Santoro questioned Klitschko’s attorney, Diane Park, about the urgency of the request.
Park told the court that they believed a person identified only as a nonrelative had removed belongings after Panettiere’s death and attempted to sell some of her jewelry at a pawn shop.
She also said certain assets could go unaccounted for while the death investigation continued.
According to court documents, Klitschko needed legal authority to address the situation with both the pawn shop owner and law enforcement agencies.
Panettiere’s tax returns must also be filed this month, Park added. After hearing the explanation, Santoro approved the temporary guardianship.
The judge said Kaya would not need to attend the next hearing, which is scheduled for December 7.
Our News Outlet has contacted representatives for Panettiere, Klitschko and his attorney for comment but has not received a response.
In an October 1 filing obtained by Our News Outlet, Klitschko wrote that he was “informed and believes” Panettiere’s 2025 individual state and federal tax returns are due on extension October 15, 2026, with roughly $30,000 in income taxes owed.
The filing states that Klitschko is concerned that failing to submit the returns by the deadline could expose Panettiere’s estate to “unnecessary interest and failure to file penalties,” creating a direct financial loss for Kaya, described as Panettiere’s sole intestate heir.
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Klitschko and Kaya joined the Los Angeles County court hearing remotely by videoconference. They spoke only to introduce themselves, while Kaya alone appeared on camera, seated at a table in front of curtains.
Klitshko says in the documents that he ‘intends to advance his own funds to pay the tax which is due, and will later seek reimbursement once the probate estate is opened, subject to any required Court approval.’ Above, the former couple in 2010
Klitschko says in the documents that he ‘intends to advance his own funds to pay the tax which is due, and will later seek reimbursement once the probate estate is opened, subject to any required Court approval.’
After Klitschko claimed in his original temporary guardianship filing that some of Panettiere’s personal property, including jewelry, ‘have disappeared,’ new legal documents filed on October 5 from the former boxer allege someone previously connected to the actress sold items to a pawn shop.
The filing obtained by Our News Outlet reads: ‘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 pawn shop has declined to disclose specific item information without being contacted by law enforcement.
‘Absent such contact, there is a real and continuing risk that any remaining items, including jewelry, believed to belong to Hayden, will be sold, transferred or otherwise rendered unrecoverable.’
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’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson (above together) and his brother, Zach, were both at the scene when the actress was pronounced dead
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
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.
