Custody Settlement for Anna Nicole Smith's Daughter Near

The custody battle for Anna Nicole Smith's daughter, Dannielynn, could be coming to a end very soon. That is, if Howard K. Stern has his way.

It seems as if Howard K. Stern, Smith's longtime companion, has been rushing to get a deal made with Larry Birkhead. Birkhead is the former boyfriend of Smith. In the deal, Stern will be able to remain part of Dannielynn's life and will manage her finances.

With the results of the DNA test looming overhead, Stern knows that if the DNA results reveal that Birkhead is indeed the father of Dannielynn before a deal is made, he will not only lose the 5 month old child but will possibly lose all communication with her.

Dannielynn is set to inherit close to one-half of a billion dollars ($500,000,000) from her mother.

There is speculations that Stern now joins the ranks of all of the money-hungry individuals that stepped forward soon after the death of Anna Nicole Smith to claim some part of the child she left behind.

Stern arranged for the funeral of Smith to be taped and broadcast on 'Entertainment Tonight'. The amount of money he received for the exclusive rights has not been revealed.

There is reports that Stern is now pressuring Birkhead to join him on the television shows 'Entertainment Tonight' and 'The Insider' for an exclusive interview about the life of Anna Nicole Smith and the current legal battles regarding the paternity of Dannielynn.

According to a source, Larry Birkhead does not want anything to do with this.

The paternity of Dannielynn has prompted a legal battle that started in California, moved into Florida and now is taking place in the Bahamas. The key players in this battle include Howard K. Stern, longtime companion of Anna Nicole Smith, and Larry Birkhead - Smith's former boyfriend.

In a Florida courtroom while deciding where to bury Smith, the matter of paternity was to be settled. Attorneys for Larry Birkhead petitioned the court for a DNA test to be preformed on Stern, however Stern informed Judge Larry Seidlin in a closed conference that he was not willing to submit DNA to Birkhead.

Dannielynn Hope Marshall Stern was born on September 7, 2006 in the Bahamas. She is the daughter of Anna Nicole Smith. Dannielynn has one brother, Daniel, who is deceased.

Dannielynn is considered a U.S. Citizen because she was born in the Bahamas to an American mother.

Her mother, Anna Nicole Smith, was a former Playboy Playmate and model. Smith was found unconscious in her hotel room at the Hard Rock located in Hollywood, Florida. She later died. The cause of death is unknown at this time.

With the sudden death of her mother (Anna Nicole Smith) on February 8, 2007, Dannielynn stands to inherit one half of a billion dollars ($500,000,000). Money has been linked as the motive for the custody battle.

SOURCES:

Hollywood.com (http://www.hollywood.com)