The struggle for control of Anne Heche’s estate received some attention on Tuesday when a court declared at her estate hearing that her eldest son, Homer Heche Laffoon, can administer the estate for the time being.
The decision comes less than a week after Homer filed court filings, saying the Six Days, Seven Nights diva died with only $400,000 in her bank account. According to the same documents, Heche resided in an apartment and owned no property.
According to the records, Heche was working on a novel called Call Me Anne, which “is still on track to be released in early 2023.” The book’s publisher and distributor, Viva Editions and Simon & Schuster, stated in September that the 140-page memoir will be released on January 24, 2023.
Homer, 20, claims the estate consists of “a few modest bank accounts, royalty payments and other income, a corporation in which the Decedent was the sole shareholder (used for projects in development and business functions related to her career in film, including a modest bank account and royalty payments).” There’s also her stake in her Better Together podcast and “future profits from her forthcoming book.”
Heche’s ex-husband, James Tupper, and their 13-year-old son, Atlas, attended the 15-minute hearing in L.A. court on Tuesday, when Judge Lee R. Bogdanoff reiterated that this is a 50-50 estate split between Homer and Atlas, and that nothing should be challenged in that respect.
Furthermore, Bogdanoff noted that Atlas should have access to Heche’s residence to recover his stuff, but that for the time being, Homer is in charge of the estate. Furthermore, the court stated at the hearing that he feels Homer is qualified to be the executor of the estate, and that there is no legal reason for him not to be.
Bryan Phipps, Homer’s lawyer, writes “We are pleased — but not surprised — with the court’s ruling this morning denying James’ petition to appoint himself guardian ad litem for Atlas. We look forward to the court resolving Homer’s petition at the next hearing and, in the meantime, Homer will continue to diligently administer the Estate pursuant to his authority as Special Administrator.”