Another Heath Ledger Update

As discussed earlier today on this blog, Heath Ledger’s will was drafted before the birth of his daughter, Matilda, and left his entire estate to his parents and siblings.  Nonetheless, his family has decided to allow the entire estate estimated at $20 million to pass to Matilda.

In a new development reported in Ledger’s Life Insurance Co: Suicide = No Cash, TMZ.com, Sept. 29, 2008, Heath’s life insurance company (ReliaStar) is refusing to pay on his $10 million policy claiming that his death was a suicide, rather than as the result from an accidental overdose of drugs as the New York City Medical Examiner concluded.  The policy provides that the company would only return the premiums paid, rather than the proceed amount, if the death is the result of Heath’s suicide.

The named beneficiary of the policy is a trustee for the benefit of Matilda.  The trustee has now filed suit against ReliaStar claiming it is acting in bad faith in not paying the policy.  Not only is ReliaStar claiming suicide, but it also has a back up argument that Heath lied on his application by not revealing his use of prescription drugs and prior use of illegal drugs.

Special thanks to David S. Luber (Attorney at law, Florida Probate Attorney Wills and Estates Law Firm) for being the first of many readers to bring this development to my attention