People magazine is reporting that Matilda Rose, the only child of the late Heath Ledger, will be the sole heir of Ledger’s estate … which has been determined by Ledger’s next of kin. While I find this wholly appropriate, I cannot help but think on this as a sad, bittersweet development in Matilda’s very young life. There is a snag, tho … TMZ is reporting that the life insurance company that insured Ledger’s policy is opening their own investigation into his death to determine if he died by accident or by suicide … if suicide, they will not have to pay out the premium. Blah. What a sad, gross scenario this whole thing has become. Here are a few really supercute pics of Matila out for a stroll on the streets of NYC this weekend, lookin’ as cute as can be … thankfully, she’s too young yet to know what any of this stuff means:

Heath Ledger’s family has decided to donate his entire estate to the late actor’s daughter, Matilda Rose. Two years before his little girl was born, the Dark Knight star – who died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in January – signed a will leaving his fortune to his parents and sisters. But Ledger’s father, Kim, says they have decided that all the money should all go to 2-year-old Matilda (the actor’s daughter with ex-girlfriend Michelle Williams). In fact, he tells PEOPLE, that was the plan “from the moment my boy passed away.” “There was never any question about the fact that Heath’s estate would go to Matilda,” he says, confirming a report in Australia’s Sunday Times. “Never a question. We are very close to Michelle and Matilda” … Although some reports have valued Ledger’s assets at up to $20 million, Adelaide accountant Mark Dyson – an executor of the actor’s estate – has refused to state the amount Matilda will inherit.

It’s unclear if the premium to be paid from Ledger’s life insurance policy is included in his estate … which could significantly affect Matilda’s inheritance:

The company that wrote Heath Ledger’s $10 million life insurance policy is being sued after claiming the actor’s death might have been a suicide, even though officials concluded it was accidental. Lawyers for Ledger’s daughter say it’s a transparent ploy to avoid paying the money. ReliaStar Life Insurance Company wrote the policy in June 2007 — six months before Ledger died. The beneficiary of the policy is a trustee who would hold the money for 2-year-old Matilda. Instead of paying the $10 mil, ReliaStar set out to investigate whether Ledger took his own life, despite the fact that the New York City Medical Examiner ruled the death accidental. TMZ has obtained a lawsuit, filed by Matilda’s trustee, claiming ReliaStar (owned by ING Americas) has acted in bad faith by not promptly paying the $10 million and by wrongfully prying into the life of Heath Ledger after his death. 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. We’re also told ReliaStar believes Ledger may have lied on two questions on his insurance application — specifically, whether he was taking prescription drugs when he filled out the application and whether he ever used illegal drugs. In its answer to the lawsuit, ReliaStar claims it can contest the policy if Ledger lied on the application and it was a “material misrepresentation.” Sources tell us Ledger had a prescription for Ambien when he filled out the application, but Ambien was not in his system when he died, nor were any illegal drugs. Lawyers for Matilda’s trust claim ReliaStar is flagrantly violating California law, which prohibits insurance companies from re-examining insurance applications after the policyholder dies. In the lawsuit, Matilda’s lawyers say they received a letter from ReliaStar, asking them to identify “all physicians who attended to [Ledger] and all hospitals or institutions where [he] was treated since 1996.” Matilda’s lawyers say the request blatantly violates the law. An official for ReliaStar told TMZ, “No decision has been made on the claim.” But lawyers for Matilda’s trust believe ReliaStar should have already paid and, according to the suit, is acting “maliciously, fraudulently and/or oppressively … depriving plaintiff of the insurance policy benefits.”

I thnk it’s safe to assume any any insurance company is gonna do whatever it can to keep from paying out premiums, so this comes as no surprise. Whether or not they are able to build a case that benefits them, tho, is another question. In the end, who is the final arbiter? If ReliaStar determines that they don’t have to pay out … who has the final say? Again, I’m glad that little Matilda is too young to comprehend any of this stuff. She is such a little doll, the spitting image of her late father. My heart goes out to her because despite whatever money she may get in the end, it will never be enough to replace the absence of her father :(

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source, Source]