UPDATE 10/12/22: On Oct. 20, 2022, Homer asked for more access over Anne’s assets, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE. The outlet reported that the 20-year-old’s attorney filed documents in the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County, requesting “the Court to expand the authority” so he can “take possession of property and other assets of [Heche’s] Estate.”
Homer’s attorney Bryan L. Phipps said he needs to be able to remove all of her items from her condo, which was only paid through October, “to avoid addition fees and costs and, ultimately, potential loss,” per the documents. The documents also reportedly claim that Anne had several checks addressed to her that she never deposited, which Homer will need to deposit before they become “voided.”
Homer would also be able to protect the property Anne left behind “from damage, waste, and injury,” and receive any claims and rents that would come to her, the outlet further reported. He could also “manage, perform, and enforce the rights and interests of [Anne] and the Estate regarding the publication agreement and forthcoming book by [Anne].”
Finally, Homer reportedly asked for a bond of $800,000 and access his mother’s financial records.
UPDATE 10/12/22: A California judge ruled in Anne Heche‘s son Homer Laffoon‘s favor and declared that Homer will be his half-brother Atlas Tupper‘s guardian instead of Anne’s ex James Tupper. The ruling was made October 11, after Homer filed to be named legal guardian of Atlas (who is James’ son). Homer’s lawyer told HollywoodLife in a statement, “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.”
ORIGINAL STORY: A legal battle is brewing between Anne Heche‘s son Homer Laffoon, 20, and her ex James Tupper, 57, over her estate. In a petition filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court on Aug. 31, Homer argued why he should be named administrator of his late mother’s estate, instead of James. Homer claimed that a 2011 email, where Anne allegedly named James the admin of her estate, is not valid, according to court documents obtained by HollywoodLife.
Homer, who is the son of Anne and cameraman Coleman “Coley” Laffoon, alleged that there’s no signature on Anne’s decade-old email, and so it should be invalidated. “In fact, the Decedent sent a similar email to her bookkeeper on April 7, 2020, after the Decedent contracted COVID-19,” the filing reads. “This document, which fails to qualify as a will on the same basis as the email attached to the Objection, makes no reference whatsoever to Mr. Tupper, which is not surprising given their acrimonious breakup in 2018.”
Anne’s eldest child asserted his right to be appointed administrator of her estate in the filing and fired back at James’ claims that he isn’t “suitable” for the responsibility. Homer claimed that he was employed at the time of Anne’s tragic death on Aug. 11, and planned to resume classes at Tulane University, but he “postponed his re-enrollment due to recent events.” Homer also clarified that he was not “estranged” from Anne when she died and they “maintained a close and active relationship.”
James, who dated Anne from 2007 to 2018, was also accused of blocking Homer’s communication with his half-brother Atlas Tupper, 13, in the filing. Homer claimed that James’s “aggressive and manipulative” actions have “made it difficult” for Homer to contact his brother. Homer alleged that James is pretending to be Atlas via text messages. The 20-year-old also revealed that Atlas allegedly hasn’t shown up to any grief counseling sessions, and Homer refuses to be alone there with James “due to prior experiences” that Homer “does not wish to disclose”. Homer also filed to be named legal guardian of his younger brother in court.
Anne died at the age of 53 after being involved in a fiery car crash on Aug. 5. The Chicago P.D. actress rammed her blue Mini Cooper into the garage of an apartment complex and then sped into a residential home, causing the car and home to burst into flames. Anne was pulled from the crash by paramedics and then rushed to the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital for burn treatment, but she did not survive her injuries. She slipped into a coma following the tragic accident and “suffered a severe anoxic brain injury”, according to her rep. She was placed on life support until Aug. 14 — two days after she was announced legally dead in the state of California. HL confirmed that there were traces of drugs in the former soap star’s system during her horrifying accident. Anne’s remains were cremated on Aug. 23 and her ashes were placed in a mausoleum at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
James paid tribute to his former girlfriend after her tragic death on social media. The Revenge star shared a photo of Anne with a simple caption, which read “love you forever.” He also included a broken heart emoji. When Anne was still in a coma after the crash, James released a statement hoping for the actress to recover, which sadly did not happen.