Daveigh Chase reportedly left $400,000 but no will, prompting her mother to seek control of the late actress’s estate in Los Angeles probate court.
The contrast at the center of Daveigh Chase’s estate case is as striking as it is heartbreaking: The former child star reportedly left approximately $400,000 in personal property, even though court records describe her as unhoused when she died at age 35.
Probate documents filed July 8 in Los Angeles County Superior Court estimate that Chase owned no real estate and died without a will. Her mother, Cathy Chase, has asked the court to appoint her as administrator of the estate, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE. The petition also requests approval of a $400,000 bond and authority to manage the estate under California’s Independent Administration of Estates Act. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 12.
Should the court approve her request, Cathy would be responsible for finding and protecting her daughter’s assets, notifying creditors, maintaining financial records and submitting an inventory to the court. The $400,000 valuation is an initial estimate, not a final accounting, and could change as residual payments, debts, and other assets or claims are identified.
Chase died on June 16 in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner listed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, commonly known as AIDS, as the primary cause of death. Chronic polysubstance use was identified as another significant condition, and her death was ruled natural.
For many viewers, Chase remains connected to two defining roles released in 2002. She voiced Lilo Pelekai in Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch,” giving the young character a memorable combination of humor, determination and vulnerability. That same year, she terrified audiences as Samara Morgan in the American remake of “The Ring.”
Her other credits included “Donnie Darko,” HBO’s “Big Love” and the English-language version of Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away.” Her performances made her a recognizable figure to a generation of moviegoers, even as she largely disappeared from the public eye later in her career.
The probate filing adds a new chapter to accounts of Chase’s difficult final years. Reports published after her death said she experienced addiction, housing instability and periods of homelessness, including time in downtown Los Angeles. The court documents list a Chatsworth address as her last known residence while also identifying her as unhoused when she died.
Questions about Chase’s finances surfaced before the probate petition became public. A man identified as her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, launched a GoFundMe campaign during her final days, describing her as critically ill and in need of support.
Her former manager, John Ryan, later urged fans to be cautious about donating. He said Chase had money available through a trust account connected to the Screen Actors Guild and claimed she had a substantial amount of unclaimed residual income. That claim has not been confirmed by the initial probate valuation.
Chase was never married and had no children, according to the court documents. Her mother and father are identified as her surviving relatives.
The probate proceedings will determine who manages the estate and how valid debts and claims are resolved. Beyond those legal questions, however, the filing highlights a painful reality: Financial value on paper does not always provide stability, safety or access to help in someone’s daily life.
Chase’s work reached millions of people before she was old enough to drive. Now, the legal process surrounding her estate is drawing attention to the divide between the successful career audiences remember and the circumstances that reportedly shaped her final chapter.