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Anna Nicole’s will filed
Howard K. Stern filed the will of Anna Nicole Smith in an LA probate court earlier today. According to the papers, her total assets of $710,000 were to be left to her son Daniel, who died on September 10 in the Bahamas. Smith’s estate stands to be worth substantially more if her lawyers are successful in their pursuit of the former Playmate’s claim against the estate of her late husband Howard J. Marshall. In a separate petition, Larry Birkhead filed documents in LA Superior Court today formally requesting to be named as official guardian of his daughter Dannielynn’s estate. “What this means - if granted - is that Stern as the executor will have to deal with Birkhead on any matters pertaining to Anna Nicole’s estate,” says an LA probate attorney. “Birkhead and Stern appear to be cooperating in pursuit of Smith’s claim against the Marshall estate - that’s where the principal money is.” Hearings in both cases were set for June 19.
Larry Birkhead cashes in on fame
It seems there’s a strong motivation behind Larry Birkhead’s multiple appearances on Access Hollywood and other NBC shows - the former photographer reportedly signed a secret $1 million deal with the network. According to an insider, Birkhead inked a contract with NBC Universal shortly after the funeral of ex-girlfriend Anna Nicole Smith. “NBC Universal has an exclusive contract with Larry Birkhead and we don’t discuss the terms of our deals,” a rep for NBC station Bravo confirmed. Birkhead is reportedly flying back to the U.S. from the Bahamas with baby Dannielynn today. “They’ll be on board a Bravo-funded plane along with Howard K. Stern and the network is planning some kind of big interview,” says an insider. “NBC Universal made the deal with Larry right after the funeral. NBC did it through their entertainment division so there wouldn’t be any uproar about it coming from news.”
No custody terms reached; Stern files slander suit
No judgment has been made in the custody battle for Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter Dannielynn. A scheduled custody hearing was delayed yesterday in the Bahamas to give the baby’s father, Larry Birkhead, and Smith’s mother Virgie Arthur more time to negotiate a private visitation arrangement. Birkhead and Arthur are expected to meet today to discuss a possible agreement. “No press, no lawyers, no nothing,” said Arthur’s lawyer. “They are going to figure out what they believe is in the best interests of the child and try to get it done.” Meanwhile, Howard K. Stern, Smith’s companion and former attorney, filed a slander lawsuit yesterday against an attorney for Arthur who suggested he was involved in the former Playmate’s death. The suit, filed in West Palm Beach, also accuses the lawyer of invasion of privacy and seeks unspecified damages.
Willa Ford to play Anna Nicole
Former Playmate Willa Ford will play Anna Nicole Smith in an upcoming biopic. The film, entitled Anna Nicole, will follow Smith’s life from the age of 17 until her death earlier this year. The film is one of several projects currently in the works about Smith. In another production, Courtney Love is being lined up to play the model and reality show star. Baywatch alum Kristy Swanson plays Smith in a Law & Order episode set to air May 8.
Larry is the father of Anna Nicole’s baby
Finally…the identity of Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter Dannielynn has been confirmed to be Larry Birkhead. “I hate to be the one who told you this, but I told you so. I’m the father,” Birkhead told reporters outside the Bahamas courthouse where a hearing was held this afternoon. “Thank you for your support. Thank you for the people who got me this far. Thank you very much. My baby’s gonna be coming home pretty soon… I think she would be proud I fought,” the photographer said of former girlfriend Smith. Howard K. Stern also made a statement to the press, saying, “I am obviously very disappointed… I am not going to fight Larry Birkhead for custody. I will do everything I can to make sure he gets sole custody.” Smith’s longtime lawyer and companion added that he’d like the custody transition to be “gradual” so Dannielynn can adjust. To confuse things further in the seemingly endless case, no ruling has been made on the issue of custody. Birkhead’s attorney told press, “We’ll be back in court on Friday in the afternoon. We’ve got some other issues to deal with. [The judge] hadn’t made any ruling about custody yet.”
Paternity hearing delayed
The paternity hearing in the case of Anna Nicole Smith that was scheduled for this morning at 10 a.m. has been pushed back to 2:30 p.m. EDT. Larry Birkhead, Howard K. Stern and Virgie Arthur are all expected to be in attendance. Arthur reportedly plans to fight for custody of Dannielynn no matter what the results of the DNA tests.
Stern will step aside if Birkhead is Dannielynn’s dad
Howard K. Stern has announced that he will not stand in the way of Larry Birkhead if the results of DNA tests to determine the paternity of Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter reveal that Birkhead is the father. “Sources” issued a statement to TMZ that reads:
“If Larry Birkhead is confirmed to be Dannielynn’s biological father, Howard will not challenge custody. His love for her will not change, irrespective of the results. Howard will act in Dannielynn’s best interest, because he loves her and would want a smooth transition to protect her, as she is deeply bonded to those who have been with her since birth.
While Howard continues to believe and hope that he is Dannielynn’s biological father, he wants to be involved in her life, regardless of paternity. He wants to share the memories of her mother as the person who knew Anna best and all she wanted for Dannielynn. Howard will do whatever is necessary to assist Larry Birkhead to defeat any effort by Virgie Arthur to obtain custody of Dannielynn.
Howard was not part of the paternity lawsuit filed while Anna Nicole was alive. The first person to challenge Howard on custody was Virgie Arthur - not Larry Birkhead. Howard is dedicated to Virgie Arthur not having custody of Dannielynn. He is well aware of how Anna Nicole felt about ‘Mommy Dearest’ and Anna’s feelings were clear regarding Virgie Arthur being anywhere near Dannielynn. Speculation that this is somehow about money for Howard is misguided and wrong. Howard has never made a TV or book deal even though he is the one who knew Anna Nicole best.”
The results of the DNA testing will be revealed in court tomorrow in the Bahamas. Stern and Birkhead will both be present.
Paternity to be revealed Tuesday in Smith case
The world will finally learn the identity of Anna Nicole Smith’s baby daddy on Tuesday, according to TMZ. Meanwhile, two of the former Playmate’s diaries were made available to the press on Thursday and will be auctioned off along with a self portrait and several other pieces of Smith memorabilia. In one diary, Smith writes about her relationship with Guess CEO Paul Marciano, saying in June, 1992, ” O my Gosh!! Paul Marsiano called today to see if I got his books also I’m gonna go to San Antonio to do photo shoot. I’m so excited!! I can’t believe this. This could be it.” And two months later, Smith writes of the elderly Howard Marshall, “Howard has been buying me som jewelry but he call me 15 or 20 times a day it drives me crazy. I love him but he aggravates me somtimes. I don’t no what to do about Paul hes a strange guy. I hate men to want sex all the time.” In the second diary, thought to be from 1994, Smith writes of Marshall, “Hes so very weak and fragile When I touch him Im afraid he might break. If Jesus desides to take him I dont no what I’ll do. I love him so much it hurts me to site and watch him when hes hurting I just want to hold him touch him let him no how much I care.” A Dallas-based auction house bought the journals from an anonymous German businessman and expects them to fetch as much as $100,000.
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