Heath Ledger's three-year-old daughter Matilda has been officially named the sole benefactor of his life insurance policy after a Los Angeles court hearing.
Ledger took out the life insurance policy seven months before his naked body was found on January 22, 2008, in a Manhattan loft apartment he was renting.
He named Matilda as the benefactor.
An autopsy by the New York Medical Examiner's Office found the Perth-born 28-year-old Oscar winner died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, including painkillers and sleeping pills.
Despite the ruling, Minnesota-based insurance company ReliaStar declined to pay the $US10 million ($NZ19.36 million) until it held its own investigation into the actor's death, including whether he committed suicide.
Matilda's legal team responded to the delay by threatening to sue ReliaStar for "tens of millions of dollars" in punitive damages for emotional distress inflicted on Ledger's loved ones.
The public will likely never know the details of the settlement and how much Matilda will receive after Judge Lavin last month ordered the proceedings be held in private and the outcome sealed.
Monday, 16 March 2009
