Attorneys for Robin Williams’ wife and children were due back in court on Friday in the ongoing fight over the late actor’s estate.
The two sides were scheduled to go before a San Francisco judge, as court documents indicate they remain at odds over the division of Williams’ personal items and a reserve fund to maintain Susan Williams in the home she shared with Robin Williams.
Williams’ children from previous marriages — Zachary, Zelda and Cody Williams — say the estate’s trustees have determined the division of all of Williams’ personal property, and those decisions are final. They accuse Susan of holding on to property that is theirs.
Susan’s attorney, James Wagstaffe, had said after a court hearing in June that Susan wanted to keep items such as her husband’s slippers, T-shirts and some boxer shorts.
The children also say the trustees have arrived at a figure for a reserve fund for Susan to cover the costs of the Tiburon home, but she wants more.
Susan says the trustees have refused to explain how they calculated the amounts for her reserve fund, which were different from figures she arrived at.
The possessions include the late actor’s large bicycle collection, artwork, books and other items worth millions of dollars. Williams was an avid biker who was known to frequent bike shops in Marin County, where he lived.
Wagstaffe asked a San Francisco judge to help resolve the property issue if she cannot reach an agreement with Williams’ children.
“With respect to personal property, we’ve been working very hard through mediation and other processes to narrow down those issues, but issues remain,” Wagstaffe said.
Meredith Bushnell, an attorney for Williams’ children argued against court intervention.
The lawyer said Williams left final decisions about his estate to appointed trustees.
“Robin Williams clearly intended that the trustees, people he knew for a very long time, would be interpreting his trust rather than the court and frankly the beneficiaries,” she said.
Judge Andrew Cheng did not indicate whether he was inclined to intervene and gave both sides until September 9 to submit additional information.
Williams died last August at the Tiburon home. The coroner ruled his death a suicide. The actor’s wife has said he struggled with depression, anxiety and a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
