When Heath Ledger died earlier this year from an accidental overdose, his will left everything to this parents and three sisters. It was written, of course, before the birth of his daughter Matilda with Michelle Williams. Many believed Michelle would file a claim for the estate, but Heath’s family has given the entire thing over to Matilda.

“There is no claim,” the newspaper quoted Kim Ledger as saying in a report published Sunday. “Our family has gifted everything to Matilda.”
The actor signed the will on April 12, 2003. It lists assets and cash of just $118,000, but the actor’s estate is believed to be worth more than $16.3 million.

Heath Ledger’s life insurance company is ruling his death a suicide to avoid paying $10 million to a trustee for his daughter who has filed a lawsuit:

Sources say lawyers for the insurance company have claimed Ledger’s death was “suspicious” — possibly suicide, which would nullify the policy. The company alleges in its answer to the lawsuit, “ReliaStar is entitled to investigate Plaintiff’s claim to determine if the ‘Suicide’ provision is applicable.” That provision states, “If the Insured commits suicide … we will pay only the amount of premiums paid to us.”
ReliaStar’s lawyers have informed Matilda’s lawyers they intend to take the depositions of Mary-Kate Olsen, as well as the masseuse who was at Ledger’s home when he died, Ledger’s colleagues on his last film, his agents, doctors, psychologists and others. Lawyers for Matilda believe the insurance company is trying to scare and shame them into submission. They believe ReliaStar is trying to drag the process out, for what could be years, to avoid paying the money.

Matilda’s lawyers say ReliaStar is violating California law which does not allow insurance companies to reexamine applications after the death of the policyholder.

Her lawyers believe the company should have already paid and say the company is acting “maliciously, fraudulently and/or oppressively.”

Since officials have stated that Heath’s cause of death was an accidental drug overdose, and not a suicide, shouldn’t they have to pay?! We think so!

Heath Ledger’s maniacal twist on the Joker in The Dark Knight in no way resembled his true character off set – that of a proud father to his 2-year-old daughter, Matilda, his costars say.

“Because he died people want a dark story [that] he was so obsessed with the character, he was so contaminated by the Joker and he couldn’t sleep and all of that stuff,” said costar Gary Oldman, who plays Lt. Jim Gordon in the film, adding that wasn’t the case.

“In between takes he would sit on the curbside and a smoke cigarette and laugh and talk about his daughter Matilda (pictured with Ledger above),” added Oldman. “I thought he was just a beautiful kid. I thought he was just wonderful. I had a real affection for him.

Ledger, who died in January, gushed about his daughter with actress Michelle Williams to costars on set.

“Heath showed me pictures of [Matilda] … [he] would come in and say she did this and she did that,” recalled Aaron Eckhart, who plays District Attorney Harvey Dent in the sequel out July 18.

But Ledger’s other love on set was for his character, the Joker. Eckhart added: “He really created his look. That character — Heath loved so much. He really cared about the Joker.”

Director Christopher Nolan said he needed an actor who would be “truly fearless” for the role and Ledger was up for the challenge.

“[For] those who knew him and those who had the privilege of working with him, it’s pretty amazing the disparity between the person he was and the monster that he created for us,” Nolan said. “To see that being created from a this very gentle person is a real testament to his skill as an actor.”

Michelle Williams pushes sleepyhead daughter Matilda, 2, through their Brooklyn hometown on a summery day, reportedly on their way to the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

So adorable!

Michelle Williams glows with costars Catherine Keener and Samantha Morton at the premiere of Synecdoche, New York Friday in Cannes. Earlier, the actress premiered another film, Wendy and Lisa, at the festival, telling reporters, “It actually does feel kind of special to have two films at the same time.”

Doesn’t Michelle look fantastic?! 

We’re glad to see her again!

Michelle Williams, 27, arrived in the south of France in time to dazzle at the red carpet premiere of her film Wendy and Lucy. On Friday, she began promoting Synecdoche, New York, a Charlie Kaufman film costarring the phenominal Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener.

“It was decided on Monday night that she could come to Cannes, and she got on the next plane to arrive just in time to get dressed and come to our premiere,” said a rep for Wendy and Lucy. “She came in and had a long nap and then came to the screening.”

Michelle was radiant in a vintage Chanel Haute Couture dress. Ah, she looks so beautiful and in such a classic way. She will remain in Cannes at least through Friday night to promote another festival movie in which she appears, Synecdoche, New York, before flying back to the United States to resume filming a Martin Scorsese movie in Boston.

Williams has kept a low profile since Ledger died last January at age 28 of an accidental overdose. After attending his memorial service in Australia, she has spent time with their 2-year-old daughter Matilda in New York and on the set of her new film.

Here are some more photos of Michelle Williams at the Cannes Film Festival.
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It’s been almost two months since Heath Ledger’s tragic death and for the first time two of his greatest loves, Michelle Williams and Naomi Watts, are speaking about the late actor and the impact he made on their lives. In the new issue of Interview magazine, Michelle says, “For as long as I’d known him, he had bouts with insomnia. He just had too much energy,” regarding the prescription sleeping pills that were partially to blame for his accidental death. “His mind was turning, turning, turning — always turning. He had an uncontrollable energy. He buzzed. He would jump out of bed.”
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Heath Ledger’s will leaves everything to his parents and three sisters.

The three page document was filed in his native Australia in 2003 — before he was Oscar nominated for Brokeback Mountain, and became engaged to Michelle Williams and had Matilda, 2.

New documents filed in New York City’s Surrogate Court, as reported by the New York Daily News, show the actor had less than $145,000 in assets when he died January 22. These include $100,000 spread across several bank accounts, a $25,000 hybrid Toyota Prius and $20,000 in furniture and fixtures.

The worth of the Brooklyn townhouse he once shared with Williams, trust funds and Australian residences is unknown.

The Daily News says the bulk of Ledger’s estate will be handled in Australia.

When Michelle Williams spoke to Elle magazine in January, she had no idea she’d be faced with the death of her ex, Heath Ledger, only days later on Jan. 22.

At the time, she was still mourning their breakup. “I didn’t know where to go” after their 2007 split, she says in the magazine’s April issue. “I couldn’t imagine any place in the world that was gonna feel good to me.”

Williams, 27, dove into work on several films, because “when I have too much free time, that’s when things start to get a little messy.”

She also naturally focused on Matilda, 2, her daughter with Ledger. “She’s bigger to me than any relationship, bigger than the awards,” Williams says. “She’s what came out of it.”

Before Michelle Williams went into mourning after the passing of ex-fiancé Heath Ledger, she gave a revealing interview to Wonderland magazine.

The actress gives us a rare glimpse into her private world, chatting about everything from her own insecurities and vanities, motherhood and why she didn’t attend Katie Holmes‘ wedding. She even wonders at one point if she shouldn’t have become a doctor instead.

On how fame has changed since the days of Dawson’s Creek:
“People weren’t paying attention to who we were dating, what we were wearing or drinking. We were pretty much left alone. We got off scot-free because if the paparazzi had come down then there certainly would have been things to talk about.”

On whether she attended Katie Holmes’ wedding:
“Everybody wants to know that. No, I didn’t go because I was working on The Tourist. To be honest, we’re not really in touch.”

On living with Christina Ricci while shooting Prozac Nation:
“There weren’t a lot of nights in. I was about 19. We were wild. I’m so glad I had those times before I had a child. We were both in dark places and thankfully had each other to go through it with. Luckily it was shot in Canada so we could drink legally.”

On whether she’d describe herself as vain:
“I have insecurity masquerading as vanity. I don’t think I’m vain as an actress but I’m probably more so as a person. Again, it goes back to that thing about when I’m working is the only time when I don’t judge myself… While I’m working I really don’t give a f*** how I look. Afterwards, if I have to watch it, I might have some problems.”

On being voted one of People magazine’s Most Beautiful People last year:
“The positive comments and good feedback never really touches you. There can be 100 great reviews but you only listen to the one bad one. I can only absorb the negativity, which is a flaw. I wouldn’t recommend that approach.”

On her body image:
“I feel like I didn’t have any relationship with my body before Matilda. Well I did, but it was just a bad one. After having my daughter I can’t judge myself in the same way. My body has done this totally miraculous but utterly ordinary thing.”

On looking up to her Synecdoche, New York costar Philip Seymour Hoffman:
“I mean, I’ve had nightmares… where I go on stage and Philip Seymour Hoffman is watching.”

On how motherhood has changed her:
“The downside is that my vocabulary has shrunk to the size of a pea. Since having a kid, I just don’t have the same access to the world. I don’t see as many shows, I don’t go to many movies and I hardly read any books anymore. I’m lucky to make it through a book a month. So you start to develop in a much more nonverbal way, which can be so frustrating. Also there’s been a lot going on in my personal life and part of me is… I don’t know. I shouldn’t talk about it but it’s like I’m reemerging back into the world or something.”

On playing a surgeon in her new film Mammoth:
“The whole experience has been such an eye-opener… I had this weird sensation where I thought, ‘Oh f***, I’ve missed my calling’. The sense of purpose made me wish I’d become a doctor.”

On looking forward to her thirties:
“I don’t really have a concept of my thirties. Obviously so much has changed for me in the last few months that I don’t really have an idea of what my life is going to be. I thought I knew certain things and it turned out that I didn’t so I don’t really try and anticipate so much anymore. I’m not making any bets on the future.”

On February 9, at an intimate memorial for ex fiance Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams lost her composure during a video montage featuring him and their 2-year-old daughter Matilda, Us Weekly reports in its latest issue.

The montage – played during a tribute to the actor in his hometown of Perth, Australia – was accompanied by the Ben Harper song “Happy Ever After in Your Eyes,” which Harper penned for Matilda at Ledger’s request.

“Just seeing it all there in front of you was humbling,” one mourner tells Us of the tribute. “It’s just amazing how much he fit into his short life.

Williams, 27, is holding her own despite the pressures of grieving, working, and mothering.

“She is really keeping it together,” a friend tells Us. “And she’s so great with Matilda.”

Though she is “still very heartbroken” over the loss of Ledger, “she is happy to be working,” a pal tells Us. “It is a welcome distraction.”

On Monday, Williams was in New York City filming scenes for the small-budget drama Mammoth just two blocks from the apartment building where Ledger was found dead three weeks ago, the victim of an accidental overdose.

After Mammoth wraps, Williams will head to Boston next month to start shooting Martin Scorsese’s thriller Ashecliffe, costarring Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo.

A somber Michelle Williams was back to work today not 48 hours attending the funeral of her ex-fiancé, Heath Ledger, in Australia.

The courageous 27-year-old was on the SoHo set of her upcoming film Mammoth, just three blocks from the Broome Street loft where her 2-year-old daughter Matilda’s father died of an accidental prescription drug overdose three weeks ago.

Shy and serious, Michelle was filming inside a macabre setting, especially for her first day back at work: the Evolution store on Spring Street, which sells exotic bones.

Just before his death, Heath had told friends in Australia how much he missed Matilda, who was in Sweden with Michelle in January. The sad truth is that he would have been reunited with her this month, because Michelle was due back in NYC for filming.

How do you tell a 2-year-old that her father passed away?

Sources say that Michelle Williams is mourning and trying to figure out what to do next.

Matilda, though, “is too young” to know the heartbreaking reason why her father isn’t around anymore.

“Michelle and the family are showering Matilda with love right now to cushion it so she isn’t really aware,” a source close the family says.

The source adds: “Michelle basically told Matilda, ‘Daddy went away.’ Matilda still doesn’t grasp it.”

The toxicology results were announced today and the cause of Heath Ledger’s untimely death is now known.   Heath Ledger died of an accidental prescription overdose.

Look at that picture.  Doesn’t Matilda look just like Heath??