When Anna Nicole Smith left the party called life on February 8, 2007, she left behind a legacy of questions, court battles, and the most famous infant since the Lindbergh baby. It took many days before she could be buried, weeks longer to determine how she died, and it wasn’t until Tuesday, April 10, 2007 that the world knew who fathered Anna Nicole’s child. Howard K. Stern, longtime friend, companion, and lawyer to Anna Nicole Smith has claimed parentage from the start. His claim seemed to be supported by a Bahamas birth certificate stating Stern as the father, a certificate that was dismissed in court because signatures were not properly placed. But Stern’s claims were disputed, even before the death of Anna Nicole Smith, by her ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead. After her death, Prince Fredric Von Anhalt also came forward claiming responsibility, while Anna’s mother Virgie Hogan Hart made custody claims and overtures. Hugh Heffner, famous Playboy founder, came forward to state he was certainly not the father of Dannielynn – no DNA testing for Heff. But, now the Bahamas court has ruled, and there can be no denying who Dannielynn’s daddy is. All parties can, however, still fight over custody.

The tragic story was splashed all over the media, as images of Anna Nicole in life paraded across TV screens. Her sensational life paved the way for a sensational life after death, and lingering questions kept the story on front pages around the nation. There are still questions, even now, surrounding the sad Smith case. But at least one answer is final and complete – the world can now know just who Dannielynn’s daddy is. Now seven months old, the infant could inherit the multi-million dollar estate left behind by Anna’s former hubby Howard Marshall II…or, she could get only Anna’s remaining estate. The Marshall million-dollar court battle that was so much a part of Anna Nicole’s life has not been settled even with her death, as Marshall’s remaining family members continue to fight the legal battle Smith started. Even without Marshall millions, Dannielynn Smith is a millionaire by virtue of her deceased mother.

DNA testing is finally complete, and after analyzing samples of Smith, Stern, Birkhead, and von Anhalt, it’s official. Kentucky-born Larry Birkhead is the true biological father of Dannielynn Smith – now all parties can stop fighting court rulings and trying to delay DNA testing results. Now, they can all focus on the bigger issue: who gets custody? That battle is sure to start soon, now that paternity has finally been established. Before the DNA results were released, Howard K. Stern claimed he would not fight Birkhead for custody if the latter was established as Dannielynn Hope’s father. If Stern follows through, Birkhead will have to battle for custody with only the child’s maternal grandmother, Virgie, who did not meet Dannielynn until after Anna’s death. One battle is over…and another, longer battle can begin.