This has been reported here before, but here it is from an Australian perspective; i.e., Heath's homeland; as reported in the (Sydney) Sunday Telegraph on Sun 23 March 2008. These stories sadden me so much.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23417337-5001021,00.htmlWas Heath Ledger only worth $145,000?By Colleen EganThe father of Hollywood actress Michelle Williams has challenged the grieving family of Heath Ledger to publicly state the value of their son's fortune.
Larry Williams, who is one of the world's best known stock market traders, said he was perplexed that documents filed in a New York court listed Ledger's assets at just $145,000.
In an escalation of the public attack on Kim Ledger in the wake of his superstar son's death, Mr Williams issued the blunt challenge through The Sunday Telegraph.
"It's real simple: just come clean with everything,'' he said.
"It's so easy to resolve this. He just has to say where the income went and where the assets are.
"I'm certain that there is grieving in the Ledger family but (lawyers for) Kim have already filed papers in New York, so it seems like it's time to be transparent about it.
"I have no idea what Heath Ledger was worth (but) they certainly haven't stated all of the assets to the court.''
Mr Williams conceded that he did not have a close relationship with his daughter and that he was not in constant contact with her.
However, he said he was certain that lawyers for Michelle, her toddler daughter Matilda and the Ledgers did not "sit down and sort all this out'' before the will was filed in New York.
Heath Ledger, 28, died in New York on January 22 of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.
He doted on Matilda but was separated from Ms Williams, who joined the Ledger family in Perth for a memorial and wake on Cottesloe beach on February 9.
Documents obtained by The Sunday Telegraph indicate that papers were filed by US lawyers acting for the Ledger family at 4.07pm on February 29.
The 2003 will names Ledger's father, mother and sisters as the only beneficiaries.
However, the New York documents also acknowledge Heath's only known offspring, Matilda Rose, 2, as an interested party.
They declare that "the total value of their shares of the estate will be $145,000'', with furniture and fixtures worth $20,000, a Toyota Prius worth $25,000 and $100,000 in miscellaneous bank accounts.
The Australian co-executors nominated by Heath Ledger's will are Mark Dyson and Rob Collins, a Perth accountant who has been a close financial adviser of Kim Ledger's for many years.
Scrutiny of the Ledger will was sparked by a public warning this month from Kim Ledger's estranged brothers about the management of the $2 million estate of their late grandfather, Sir Frank Ledger.
Mr Ledger took over the elderly relative's affairs in 1986 and borrowed against his assets, leaving the estate in debt by the time the WA Supreme Court removed him as administrator of Sir Frank's will in 1994.
Mr Ledger signed a deed in 1998 to repay $1 million but the family claims the money was never paid.
Repeated attempts to contact Mr Ledger, who is a well-known racing driver and mechanical engineer, have failed.
He has not responded to the controversy sparked by his brothers' comments, except to say that Matilda would be "taken care of'' and that he hoped his family would show respect at a time of grief.
Mr Williams, who is a colourful public speaker and high-selling author whose short-term stock-trading skills are legendary in the financial world, has a separate legal battle on the other side of Australia.
He is stranded in Sydney, fighting extradition proceedings to the US on charges that he allegedly tried to evade $US1.5 million ($1.9 million) in tax from 1999 to 2001.
Mr Williams said he would not be pursuing the Ledger family on his granddaughter's behalf and would leave any challenge to the will to his daughter. However, he questioned why a will made in 2003, before Ledger met Ms Williams, was lodged in New York just a month after the death.
"It's my understanding that you have six months to file (will documents) in the United States so there was no rush,'' he said.
"There was plenty of time to sit down with lawyers for Michelle. It's not the way I would have handled it.''
A New York judge granted temporary administration of the estate to Mr Dyson, Mr Collins and an American adviser "provided that the authority shall be limited to their taking such action as is necessary to vacate the premises rented by the decedent (deceased person).''
The documents stated that the will would also be submitted to a court in Australia for probate.
In what appeared to be an error due to ignorance of Australian geography, the case was remitted to the "State of Victoria, County of Melbourne, W.Australia''.