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Crime & Safety

Father of 'Modern Family' Actress Given Control of Teen's Estate

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas said the agreement to put Montrose resident Glenn Workman in control of his daughter's finances.

The father of 14-year-old "Modern Family" actress Ariel Winter was given control of her estate Wednesday, but the teen will continue to live under the guardianship of her older sister amid allegations of abuse by their mother.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas said the agreement to put Glenn Workman in control of his daughter's finances was made pursuant to a settlement by all the parties involved. The judge said the various parties were "trying to resolve some difficult family issues," which he described as "really difficult."

"We believe things are going to get better," he said.

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Levanas scheduled a status conference for March 29.

Winter's sister, 34-year-old Shanelle Gray, was named temporary guardian of the actress Oct. 3. According to court documents, Winter contended she has been subjected to physical and mental abuse by her mother, Chrisoula Workman, who has vehemently denied the allegations and filed multiple declarations from family friends who claimed they had never seen any abuse.

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Winter stars as brainy teen Alex Dunphy in the Emmy-winning ABC series.

Asked if the arrangement announced Wednesday would become permanent, Gray's attorney, Michael Kretzmer, said, "That depends on how things go."

During a November hearing, attorney David Booth, addressing the court on behalf of Winter's father, Glenn Workman, said his client opposed Gray's temporary guardianship of the teen and was willing to move back into the family's Montrose home and live with his daughter. He said Winter's mother would agree to leave the residence.

The judge noted at the November hearing that the county Department of Children and Family Services found evidence of emotional abuse toward Winter, but not physical abuse.

Chrisoula Workman's attorney, Anita Gumm, told Levanas in November that the actress is a "rebellious teenager" and also said her older sister, a mother of two children, is beset with personal concerns that make her unsuited to serve as temporary guardian to her younger sibling.

Kretzmer had argued that neither parent was suited to step in and take over as guardian.

"There isn't a relationship between Ariel and her father and her mother has been controlling," he said last month. "This has not been for one second a picture of a rebellious teen. She's doing quite well in the custody of Ms. Gray as her temporary guardian."

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