Family split by looming court battle over Robin Williams’s estate

In papers filed in December in San Francisco Superior Court, Williams’s wife, Susan, said some of the late actor’s personal items were taken without her permission and asked the court to exclude the contents of the home that she shared with Williams from the jewellery, memorabilia and other items he said the children should have.

Williams died at his Tiburon, California, home in August. The coroner ruled his death a suicide that resulted from asphyxia caused by hanging.

The children – Zachary, Zelda and Cody – counter that Susan Williams is “adding insult to a terrible injury” by trying to change the trust agreement and rob them of the late actor’s clothing and other personal items.

“The Williams children are heartbroken that the Petitioner, Mr Williams’s wife of less than three years, has acted against his wishes by challenging the plans he so carefully made for his 
estate,” attorneys for the children of the family said in court 
papers.

James Wagstaffe, an attorney for Susan Williams, said his 
client was only seeking guidance from the court about the 
meaning of certain terms in the trust.

“This is not ugly,” he said. “I would not say this is anticipated to be a highly contested proceeding.”

An attorney for the children, Allan Mayer, declined to comment.

Susan Williams has said the actor and comedian was struggling with depression, anxiety and a recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

Williams’s trust granted his children his memorabilia and awards in the entertainment industry and also gave them some other specific personal items, according to court documents.