Hayden Panettiere’s former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, says he plans to use his own money to cover the late actress’s substantial tax bill and protect her estate from potential penalties.
Panettiere died at age 36 on August 16 at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. Her death was accidental and resulted from the “toxic effects” of multiple drugs, including fentanyl.
Her only surviving relative is her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she welcomed during her nine-year relationship with the 50-year-old former boxer.
Last month, Klitschko filed a petition in Los Angeles seeking temporary guardianship of Kaya’s estate. The move was intended to safeguard her inheritance as the sole beneficiary of Panettiere’s reported $6 million estate.
In an October 1 filing obtained by The Daily Mail, Klitschko said he was “informed and believes” that Panettiere’s 2025 state and federal tax returns are due under an extension on October 15, 2026, with approximately $30,000 in taxes owed.
According to the documents, Klitschko is concerned that missing the filing deadline could expose Panettiere’s estate to “unnecessary interest and failure to file penalties,” creating a direct financial loss for Kaya, her sole intestate heir.
Hayden Panettiere’s former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, says he will personally cover the late actress’s tax bill to help prevent penalties against her estate. The former couple is pictured in 2011.
In 2018, Panettiere gave full custody of her daughter, Kaya, to Klitschko while dealing with postpartum depression and addiction. He later moved the child to his native Ukraine.
Klitschko stated that he “intends to advance his own funds to pay the tax which is due” and plans to seek reimbursement after the probate estate is opened, subject to any court approval that may be required.
The Daily Mail said it contacted representatives for Panettiere, Klitschko and his attorney for comment but had not received a response.
The tax filing follows Klitschko’s earlier claim that some of Panettiere’s personal belongings, including jewelry, had “disappeared.” In new documents filed October 5, the former boxer alleged that someone previously connected to the actress had sold items to a pawn shop.
The filing obtained by The Daily Mail states: “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.”
In an October 1 filing obtained by The Daily Mail, Klitschko said he was “informed and believes” that Panettiere’s 2025 state and federal tax returns are due under an extension on October 15, 2026, with approximately $30,000 in taxes owed.
Klitschko said he “intends to advance his own funds to pay the tax which is due” and seek reimbursement once the probate estate is opened, subject to court approval. The former couple is pictured in 2010.
Klitschko has also asked that any guardianship appointment give him authority to “request and authorize law enforcement investigation into the recovery of Hayden’s property believed to have been misappropriated.”
The request was filed one week after Klitschko took an “urgent” legal step to protect Kaya’s inheritance, citing concerns that Panettiere’s property could be at risk.
When Kaya was three, Panettiere gave Klitschko full custody in 2018 as she struggled with postpartum depression and addiction. Klitschko subsequently moved their daughter to Ukraine, where he is from.
The filing obtained by The Daily Mail states: “Kaya is a US citizen, residing abroad with her father, Wladimir. Hayden, a US citizen and resident of California, died intestate on August 16, 2026.”
‘Although Kaya is not a resident of California, this court has jurisdiction over the guardianship of Kaya’s estate because, as such heir, Kaya is entitled to the entirety of the assets subject to Hayden’s probate administration in California.’
The documents state the purpose of the filing is to ensure Wladimir ‘may receive, manage and hold, on Kaya’s behalf, the assets to which Kaya is entitled from Hayden’s probate estate.’
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He noted there is no personal representative to safeguard the interests of Panettiere’s estate.
The petition further claims that before Panettiere’s death, additional security measures were put in place at her home due to an unknown individual that had ‘gained unauthorized access to Hayden’s property.’
Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson (above together) and his brother, Zach, were both at the scene when the actress was pronounced dead
Locks were changed and, per the documents, ‘storage units containing designer clothing and accessories worn to public appearances have been relocated as a precaution.’
‘Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expected that the individual will continue to try and misappropriate property belonging to Hayden’s Estate,’ the petition reads.
The documents also state Klitschko ‘has been informed that certain items of personal property belonging to Hayden, including jewelry, have disappeared or remain unaccounted for.
‘Some items are currently in the custody of law enforcement in connection with the ongoing investigation. It is essential that an Administrator of Hayden’s Estate be appointed to marshal the missing assets and interface with law enforcement.’
Per the documents, Klitschko alleges federal agents accessed Panettiere’s home as part of an ongoing investigation and removed her property.
‘It is urgent and essential that Wladimir be immediately appointed Temporary Guardian of Kaya’s Estate, to afford Wladimir the necessary standing to file Hayden’s Probate Petition, and the power to nominate a proposed Administrator of Hayden’s Estate,’ the documents read.
‘Without an immediate appointment for these purposes, there is a high probability that property belonging to Hayden’s Estate may be lost, damaged or dissipated before a duly appointed personal representative can be in place to protect it.’
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
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 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.