Philip Seymour Hoffman decided it was best for his children to grow up without a trust fund.
The New York Post reports Hoffman rejected the advice of his accountant David Friedman to create trust funds for his three children. Hoffman, 46, died of an overdose in February leaving behind Cooper, 10, Tallulah, 7, and 5-year-old Willa.
“[Friedman] recalled conversations with [Hoffman] in the year before his demise where the topic of a trust was raised for the kids and summarily rejected by him,” the children’s attorney, James Cahill Jr., stated in the Manhattan Surrogate’s Court filing.
Hoffman’s $35 million estate went directly to his long-time girlfriend and mother of his children Mimi O’Donnell. Friedman claimed the actor didn’t believe in marriage, but he suggested he treat O’Donnell like a spouse when it came to legal documents, according NY Post. Hoffman believed O’Donnell would take care of the children if he passed away.
The Oscar-winning actor hadn’t updated his will since the birth of his oldest son Cooper. In the will, Hoffman requested his son live in Manhattan, Chicago or a place filled with culture. He reportedly did not want his children to grow up in Hollywood.
“It is my strong desire [that] my son, Cooper Hoffman, be raised and reside in or near the borough of Manhattan [or] Chicago, Illinois, or San Francisco, California,” Hoffman stated in his will. “…The purpose of this request is so that my son will be exposed to the culture, arts and architecture that such cities offer.”
Hoffman and O’Donnell were not together before he died. NY Post reports O’Donnell had kicked out the actor from their $4 million apartment.