With all the talk about the actor Heath Ledger's sudden death, it got me thinking about if he had a will and who may be mentioned in it. Apparently, he was engaged to actress Michelle Williams, whom he met on the set of Brokeback Mountain. They had a daughter, Matilda Rose, who was born on October 28, 2005 in New York City. The child's godparents are Ledger's Brokeback costar Jake Gyllenhaal and Williams' Dawson's Creek castmate Busy Philipps. Mary-Kate Olsen could be mentioned in the will, but I highly doubt it.

Hopefully, Mr. Ledger had a good agent who took care of this. When there is no valid will, the person is said to have died "intestate." A court appoints an administrator to handle the decedent's affairs, and his or her property is then distributed according to a formula fixed by law. The laws for distribution of an intestate estate are rigid and generally do not make accommodations for those in unusual need. After payment of taxes, debts, funeral expenses and administrative costs, the property goes to the surviving spouse, children and/or relatives.

The laws are specific as to how property is to be distributed, including which relatives have priority and how the property is divided. Although it is an uncomfortable subject, you should look into getting a will for the sake of your family. Here is an article from Bankrate.com for further reading.

Labels: busy phillipps, heath ledger, jake gylenhaal, Mary-Kate Olsen, michelle williams