Court declares Dannielynn as Anna Nicole Smith’s sole heir

Earlier on this blog, I provided an analysis of Anna Nicole Smith’s will.

On Tuesday (March 4, 2008) a Los Angeles judge declared that Dannielynn is the sole heir to Anna’s estate and set up a trust in the girl’s name.  Her father, Larry Birkhead, and Anna’s executor, Howard K. Stern, will serve as the co-trustees.

It is debatable whether this result is in accordance with the terms of her will.  It is reported that Stern’s lawyer, Bruce S. Ross, said “We and Mr. Stern always believed that Anna Nicole never intended to disinherit her daughter. * * * I’m pleased to say this chapter in the saga is closed.”

See AP, Judge: Baby is Anna Nicole Smith’s sole heir, CNN.com, March 4, 2008.

Special thanks to Sara Hudman and Neda Jahansouz (both J.D. Candidates, Texas Tech University School of Law) for being the first individuals to bring this development to my attention.