Robin Williams' widow, kids settle estate fight

[Lite Beer]

Robin Williams' widow, kids settle estate fight
JANIE HAR, Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Robin Williams' widow and his three children from previous marriages reached a settlement in their legal fight over the late actor's estate, ending a public dispute following the beloved comedian's suicide last year.

Terms of the out-of-court settlement were not disclosed but James Wagstaffe, who is representing Susan Williams, said his client will remain in the San Francisco Bay Area home she shared with Williams and receive living expenses to maintain the home for the rest of her life.

Wagstaffe said she also will receive a watch Robin Williams often wore, a bike bought on their honeymoon, and their wedding gifts.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over the settlement, which remains subject to court approval. Wagstaffe and Meredith Bushnell, who represents three adult children from previous marriages — Zachary, Zelda and Cody— said they expect the judge's approval.

"Susan gets to enforce Robin's wishes. She gets to stay in the house as Robin wanted, with the trust being created to pay the expenses," Wagstaffe said.

Meredith Bushnell, who represents the three children said, "I think they're just very happy to have this behind them."

Susan Williams filed a court petition in December, saying the contents of the Tiburon home she shared with Robin Williams should be excluded from the items the actor left to his children.

She also claimed some of her husband's personal items were taken without her permission.

Williams' three children countered that Susan Williams was "adding insult to a terrible injury" by trying to change the trust agreement and deprive them of items that their father clearly intended to leave to them.

Among the items in dispute were watches, memorabilia, the tuxedo he was married in and photographs taken on his 60th birthday, according to court documents and previous statements by attorney Wagstaffe.

The dispute resulted in several court appearances before a San Francisco judge and mediation.

Trustees for Williams' estate filed a petition Friday with San Francisco County Superior Court stating the parties had reached a settlement on Sept. 25 and asking to dismiss Susan Williams' petition to have the court provide guidance in the dispute. The judge had encouraged both sides to settle out of court.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-10-03

[KC 71]

I can imigine him making a joke about vultures !

[Friendly Stranger]

Thank goodness this is settled. Now they all can go back loving him again.

[springheeled jack]

so much hassle over who should get what is always a problem even when there is a will involved can sometimes have nasty consequences in this case everything has been settled amicably .

[Mudcrab]

Dad died in 92, Mum in 2005.

I still have the box that my share (4 kids) of their worldly goods contains. Not a lot in there really...great grannies wedding certificate, grandads war medals etc. Means a lot to me.

Seems I don't suffer from spoilt peoples problems.

[F4UCorsair]

Where there's a will, there's a welative.

[hawker9000]

so much hassle over who should get what is always a problem even when there is a will involved can sometimes have nasty consequences in this case everything has been settled amicably .

Where would we be without the lawyers, who set up the trusts & wills to supposedly prevent such post-mortem warfare, and then are still able to wade in afterward anyway, most assuredly collecting their hefty fees in both cases? (And all the while quietly whispering in the ears of legislators to make things progressively more regulated, complex, and unnavigable, thus continuing to feather their own nests.) What other profession (besides politicians, but they're nearly the same thing...) gets to so regularly and publicly demonstrate its own uselessness, and yet still thrive & prosper?

Can't decide whether Robin, wherever he is, is laughing or crying.

[godden]

There's only 1 thing money can't buy- poverty