1 of 2 | The late Robin Williams pictured with his wife Susan Schneider and daughter Zelda Williams on November 13, 2011. File photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI |
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SAN FRANCISCO, March 30 (UPI) -- Robin Williams' widow and his three children are expected to be in a court battle in San Francisco on Monday over the late actor's estate.
Susan Schneider Williams filed a petition in December asking a judge to grant her more than what was explicitly left for her in the actor's will. In a document, dubbed the The Susan Trust, Schneider Williams is entitled to receive "the contents" of the Tiburon home she shared with Williams with a few exceptions, as well as enough money to cover "all costs related to the residence" for her lifetime.
In her petition, Williams' widow requests to keep "knickknacks and other items that are not associated with [the actor's] famous persona," in addition to funds for "expenses associated with daily upkeep [of the house] as well as unexpected renovations and improvements."
Williams' children Zack, 31, Zelda, 25, and Cody, 23, said they were "heartbroken" by Schneider Williams' demands in January and accused their former stepmother of spending the time after their father's death appraising memorabilia for her benefit.
According to the L.A. Times the battle over Williams' estate will ultimately be determined by his trustees Arnold Kassoy and Joel Faden, who said in court documents Schneider Williams "contention of ambiguity is entirely irrelevant" because they have "final and absolute" authority to determine the situation of the actor's belongings.
"Susan's petition was premature when it was filed," said the trustees, who are asking the court to dismiss Schneider Williams' petition.
Before his untimely death by suicide on Aug. 11, Williams, had set up a will naming Zack, Zelda and Cody the sole beneficiaries of his entire estate, with a few exceptions.
