Image courtesy of [Hot Gossip Italia via Flickr]
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Robin Williams Memorabilia Battle Brewing
It’s always sad to see families fight over a deceased loved one’s belongings, but that appears to be what’s happening with Robin William’s widow and children over the late comedian’s estate right now.
According to papers filed in December in a San Francisco Superior Court, William’s third wife, Susan Schneider Williams, claims some of her late husband’s personal belongings, including jewelry and memorabilia, were taken from the Tiburon, California home they shared without her permission. She’s blaming his children.
Robin Williams’ children and wife have gone to court in a fight over his estate http://t.co/v2VlNGoTXA pic.twitter.com/KvS5St1Df6
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) February 3, 2015
The 63-year-old actor committed suicide in August in that very home.
Photo of Robin Williams with his ex wife and three children Zach, Zelda and Cody Courtesy of Hot Gossip Italia via Flickr.
Zach, Zelda, and Cody Williams, Robin’s children from previous marriages that ended in divorce, countered Susan’s claims stating her petition only adds “insult to a terrible injury” and is an attempt to alter Robin’s wishes to “prevent them from receiving what their father wanted them to receive”.
Robin and Susan’s marriage was, sadly, a short one. The couple married in October 2011, making her a relatively new addition to the close knit family. In Robin’s pre-marriage will from January 31, 2011, he left his $50 million estate in a trust for his three children. The trust also granted his children his memorabilia and awards in the entertainment industry and some other specific personal items.
According to the New York Times, the trust was updated in recent years to better accommodate Susan, who signed a prenuptial agreement prior to her marriage with Robin. In the updated will, Susan was bequeathed her own trust which allots her possession of the Tiburon home and “the contents thereof,” subject to certain restrictions. She would also be given enough spending money to essentially cover her for life and maintain the property. While this certainly doesn’t sound like the short end of the stick, Susan still isn’t happy.
Susan says that because Robin wanted her to continue living at the Tiburon home, it makes sense that he intended for his children to only have the specific personal items he delineated in the trust that were kept at another home in Napa.
The debate between the two parties boils down to a disagreement over the definition of terms laid out in his estate–essentially, what qualifies as memorabilia. His children are entitled to all items associated with Robin’s career, such as the suspenders he wore on his hit show “Mork & Mindy,” while Susan is entitled to other items not associated with his famous persona, like the tuxedo he wore at their wedding and personal knickknacks.
According to his children, Susan’s interpretation of what qualifies as knickknacks is far from the mark. They consider some of these items to be part of sentimental collections that they’re entitled to. In their response they elaborate, stating:
These collections were carefully amassed by Mr. Williams over his lifetime and were precious to him. As the Williams children grew, so did their father’s collections and they shared in their father’s excitement as additions were made to his collection.
Both parties are hoping to settle the matter quickly and efficiently, leaving no room for further disputes. Hopefully they’re able to do so before any mud starts slinging, but it’s clear that they are all still mourning the sudden death of the legendary funny man.
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