Robin Williams' widow and his three children have become engaged in a legal dispute over his estate, nearly six months after his death. Court documents filed in December and January show that Susan Schneider Williams is currently locked in a bitter disagreement with Zak, Zelda and Cody Williams over the property left in the late star’s will.
SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Robin had stipulated how he wanted his $45million fortune to be divided up, but Susan – his third wife – is formally contesting it. She filed papers at San Francisco Superior Court asking to exclude the contents of the $7million house she shared with the actor.
Robin Williams with his wife Susan and daughter Zelda Williams
Susan argues that since her husband wanted her to stay in their marital home in Tiburon, it follows that Robin intended for his children to have only the items he kept at a property he owed in Napa, California. "Any other interpretation would lead to Mrs Williams' home being stripped while Mrs Williams still lives there," her lawyers said. Susan also accuses Robin's children of taking items from her home in the weeks after Robin’s death without permission. Zac, Zelda and Cody, meanwhile, have said that Susan is "adding insult to a terrible injury" by trying to change the trust agreement and deprive them of their late father's personal items, including jewellery and memorabilia left to them in his will. They acknowledge that Susan should be allowed to keep items she accumulated with Robin during their three-year marriage, but claim she is trying to "redefine" his will.
Robin Williams' three children, Zac, Zelda and Cody, together in October 2014
"The Williams children are heartbroken that (the) petitioner, Mr Williams' wife of less than three years, has acted against his wishes by challenging the plans he so carefully made for his estate," their lawyers said in court papers. Robin passed away at his north California home last August aged 63 after a long battle with depression, and a recent Parkinson's disease diagnosis. The coroner ruled that his death was a suicide.