18-month-old Dannielynn Birkhead has been named the sole heir to the estate of her late mother, Anna Nicole Smith.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, Mitchell Beckloff handed down the ruling yesterday. A trust was set up in Dannielynn's name, with her dad, Larry, and estate executor, Howard Stern, named as co-trustees.

The judge upheld a petition filed by Stern.

Anna Nicole drafted a will in 2001, five years before Dannielynn was born. Her only heir at the time was her son Daniel. When Daniel died three days after Dannielynn was born, followed shortly by his mother, the issue of who would legally inherit Anna Nicole's fortune became murky. If Anna Nicole's estate wins an ongoing court fight with the family of her late husband, J. Howard Marshall, then Dannielynn could stand to inherit millions of dollars.

[PS]