diff --git a/source/AvalonDocPanelMemoryLeaks/MainWindow.xaml.cs b/source/AvalonDocPanelMemoryLeaks/MainWindow.xaml.cs
index e83424d5..2689d8b8 100644
--- a/source/AvalonDocPanelMemoryLeaks/MainWindow.xaml.cs
+++ b/source/AvalonDocPanelMemoryLeaks/MainWindow.xaml.cs
@@ -27,10 +27,13 @@ public MainWindow()
             InitializeComponent();
         }
 
+        public HeavyLoad HeavyLoad { get; private set; }
+
         private void Button_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
         {
             UserControl content = new UserControl();
-            content.DataContext = new HeavyLoad();
+            HeavyLoad = new HeavyLoad();
+            content.DataContext = HeavyLoad;
             LayoutDocument docDocument = new LayoutDocument();
             docDocument.Content = content;
             docGrup.Children.Add(docDocument);
@@ -39,6 +42,7 @@ private void Button_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
 
         private void DocClosed(object sender, EventArgs e)
         {
+            HeavyLoad.Load = null;
             GC.Collect();
         }
     }
diff --git a/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.Aero/Theme.xaml b/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.Aero/Theme.xaml
index da765898..11455974 100644
--- a/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.Aero/Theme.xaml
+++ b/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.Aero/Theme.xaml
@@ -1008,6 +1008,8 @@
     </Style>
 
     <Style TargetType="{x:Type avalonDockControls:LayoutDocumentTabItem}">
+        <Setter Property="ContentTemplate" Value="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplate, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
+        <Setter Property="ContentTemplateSelector" Value="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplateSelector, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
         <Setter Property="Template">
             <Setter.Value>
                 <ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type avalonDockControls:LayoutDocumentTabItem}">
@@ -1023,10 +1025,7 @@
                                     <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto" />
                                 </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                                 <Border Grid.ColumnSpan="3" Background="Transparent" />
-                                <ContentPresenter
-                                    Content="{Binding Model, RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}}"
-                                    ContentTemplate="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplate, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}"
-                                    ContentTemplateSelector="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplateSelector, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
+                                <ContentPresenter />
                                 <!--  Close button should be moved out to the container style  -->
                                 <Button
                                     x:Name="DocumentCloseButton"
diff --git a/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.Expression/Theme.xaml b/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.Expression/Theme.xaml
index 35d9ea8d..bb09e7cb 100644
--- a/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.Expression/Theme.xaml
+++ b/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.Expression/Theme.xaml
@@ -880,6 +880,8 @@
     </Style>
 
     <Style TargetType="{x:Type avalonDockControls:LayoutDocumentTabItem}">
+        <Setter Property="ContentTemplate" Value="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplate, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
+        <Setter Property="ContentTemplateSelector" Value="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplateSelector, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
         <Setter Property="Template">
             <Setter.Value>
                 <ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type avalonDockControls:LayoutDocumentTabItem}">
@@ -895,10 +897,7 @@
                                     <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto" />
                                 </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                                 <Border Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Background="Transparent" />
-                                <ContentPresenter
-                                    Content="{Binding Model, RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}}"
-                                    ContentTemplate="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplate, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}"
-                                    ContentTemplateSelector="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplateSelector, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
+                                <ContentPresenter />
                                 <!--  Close button should be moved out to the container style  -->
                                 <Button
                                     x:Name="DocumentCloseButton"
diff --git a/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.Metro/Theme.xaml b/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.Metro/Theme.xaml
index e2055c5e..89d14bc1 100644
--- a/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.Metro/Theme.xaml
+++ b/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.Metro/Theme.xaml
@@ -1029,6 +1029,8 @@
     </Style>
 
     <Style TargetType="{x:Type avalonDockControls:LayoutDocumentTabItem}">
+        <Setter Property="ContentTemplate" Value="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplate, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
+        <Setter Property="ContentTemplateSelector" Value="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplateSelector, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
         <Setter Property="Template">
             <Setter.Value>
                 <ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type avalonDockControls:LayoutDocumentTabItem}">
@@ -1045,10 +1047,7 @@
                                     <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto" />
                                 </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                                 <Border Grid.ColumnSpan="3" Background="Transparent" />
-                                <ContentPresenter
-                                    Content="{Binding Model, RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}}"
-                                    ContentTemplate="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplate, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}"
-                                    ContentTemplateSelector="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplateSelector, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
+                                <ContentPresenter />
                                 <!--  Close button should be moved out to the container style  -->
                                 <Button
                                     x:Name="DocumentCloseButton"
diff --git a/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.VS2010/Theme.xaml b/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.VS2010/Theme.xaml
index 80d8c07a..feb3d714 100644
--- a/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.VS2010/Theme.xaml
+++ b/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.VS2010/Theme.xaml
@@ -1075,6 +1075,8 @@
     </Style>
 
     <Style TargetType="{x:Type avalonDockControls:LayoutDocumentTabItem}">
+        <Setter Property="ContentTemplate" Value="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplate, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
+        <Setter Property="ContentTemplateSelector" Value="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplateSelector, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
         <Setter Property="Template">
             <Setter.Value>
                 <ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type avalonDockControls:LayoutDocumentTabItem}">
@@ -1091,10 +1093,7 @@
                                     <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto" />
                                 </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                                 <Border Grid.ColumnSpan="3" Background="Transparent" />
-                                <ContentPresenter
-                                    Content="{Binding Model, RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}}"
-                                    ContentTemplate="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplate, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}"
-                                    ContentTemplateSelector="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplateSelector, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
+                                <ContentPresenter />
                                 <!--  Close button should be moved out to the container style  -->
                                 <Button
                                     x:Name="DocumentCloseButton"
diff --git a/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.VS2013/Themes/Generic.xaml b/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.VS2013/Themes/Generic.xaml
index 8d2ea0af..cb37eb71 100644
--- a/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.VS2013/Themes/Generic.xaml
+++ b/source/Components/AvalonDock.Themes.VS2013/Themes/Generic.xaml
@@ -1348,6 +1348,8 @@
     </Style>
 
     <Style TargetType="{x:Type avalonDockControls:LayoutDocumentTabItem}">
+        <Setter Property="ContentTemplate" Value="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplate, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
+        <Setter Property="ContentTemplateSelector" Value="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplateSelector, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
         <Setter Property="Template">
             <Setter.Value>
                 <ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type avalonDockControls:LayoutDocumentTabItem}">
@@ -1366,12 +1368,7 @@
                                     <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto" />
                                 </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                                 <Border Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Background="Transparent" />
-                                <ContentPresenter
-                                    Margin="4,0"
-                                    Content="{Binding Model, RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}}"
-                                    ContentTemplate="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplate, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}"
-                                    ContentTemplateSelector="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplateSelector, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}"
-                                    TextBlock.Foreground="{Binding Foreground, RelativeSource={RelativeSource Mode=FindAncestor, AncestorType=TabItem}}" />
+                                <ContentPresenter Margin="4,0" TextBlock.Foreground="{Binding Foreground, RelativeSource={RelativeSource Mode=FindAncestor, AncestorType=TabItem}}" />
                                 <!--  Close button should be moved out to the container style  -->
                                 <Button
                                     x:Name="DocumentCloseButton"
diff --git a/source/Components/AvalonDock/Controls/LayoutAutoHideWindowControl.cs b/source/Components/AvalonDock/Controls/LayoutAutoHideWindowControl.cs
index 9573a724..053aaedb 100644
--- a/source/Components/AvalonDock/Controls/LayoutAutoHideWindowControl.cs
+++ b/source/Components/AvalonDock/Controls/LayoutAutoHideWindowControl.cs
@@ -144,8 +144,8 @@ internal bool IsWin32MouseOver
 				var rectWindow = this.GetScreenArea();
 				if (rectWindow.Contains(new Point(ptMouse.X, ptMouse.Y))) return true;
 
-				var manager = Model.Root.Manager;
-				var anchor = manager.FindVisualChildren<LayoutAnchorControl>().Where(c => c.Model == Model).FirstOrDefault();
+				var manager = Model?.Root.Manager;
+				var anchor = manager?.FindVisualChildren<LayoutAnchorControl>().Where(c => c.Model == Model).FirstOrDefault();
 
 				return anchor != null && anchor.IsMouseOver;
 				//location = anchor.PointToScreenDPI(new Point());
diff --git a/source/Components/AvalonDock/Controls/LayoutDocumentPaneControl.cs b/source/Components/AvalonDock/Controls/LayoutDocumentPaneControl.cs
index 79c52cc4..53944d2d 100644
--- a/source/Components/AvalonDock/Controls/LayoutDocumentPaneControl.cs
+++ b/source/Components/AvalonDock/Controls/LayoutDocumentPaneControl.cs
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ This program is provided to you under the terms of the Microsoft Public
  ************************************************************************/
 
 using System;
+using System.Collections;
+using System.Collections.Specialized;
 using System.Windows;
 using System.Windows.Controls;
 using System.Windows.Data;
@@ -87,11 +89,31 @@ protected override void OnMouseRightButtonDown(System.Windows.Input.MouseButtonE
 				_model.SelectedContent.IsActive = true;
 		}
 
-		#endregion Overrides
+        protected override void OnItemsChanged(NotifyCollectionChangedEventArgs e)
+        {
+            base.OnItemsChanged(e);
+			if (e.Action == NotifyCollectionChangedAction.Remove)
+			{
+				foreach (var item in e.OldItems)
+				{
+					if (item is LayoutContent layoutContent)
+					{
+						layoutContent.TabItem.Model = null;
+						layoutContent.TabItem.ContextMenu = null;
+						layoutContent.TabItem.Content = null;
+						var panel = layoutContent.TabItem.FindVisualAncestor<Panel>();
+						if (panel != null) panel.Children.Remove(layoutContent.TabItem);
+						layoutContent.TabItem = null;
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+        #endregion Overrides
 
-		#region Private Methods
+        #region Private Methods
 
-		private void OnSizeChanged(object sender, SizeChangedEventArgs e)
+        private void OnSizeChanged(object sender, SizeChangedEventArgs e)
 		{
 			var modelWithAtcualSize = _model as ILayoutPositionableElementWithActualSize;
 			modelWithAtcualSize.ActualWidth = ActualWidth;
diff --git a/source/Components/AvalonDock/Controls/LayoutDocumentTabItem.cs b/source/Components/AvalonDock/Controls/LayoutDocumentTabItem.cs
index 4171788d..5f0ab605 100644
--- a/source/Components/AvalonDock/Controls/LayoutDocumentTabItem.cs
+++ b/source/Components/AvalonDock/Controls/LayoutDocumentTabItem.cs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ namespace AvalonDock.Controls
 	/// document from its docking position.
 	/// </summary>
 	/// <seealso cref="Control"/>
-	public class LayoutDocumentTabItem : Control
+	public class LayoutDocumentTabItem : ContentControl
 	{
 		#region fields
 		private List<Rect> _otherTabsScreenArea = null;
@@ -69,8 +69,10 @@ public LayoutContent Model
 		/// <summary>Provides derived classes an opportunity to handle changes to the <see cref="Model"/> property.</summary>
 		protected virtual void OnModelChanged(DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e)
 		{
-			DockingManager manager = Model?.Root?.Manager;
-			SetLayoutItem(manager != null ? manager.GetLayoutItemFromModel(Model) : null);
+            var layoutItem = (Model?.Root?.Manager)?.GetLayoutItemFromModel(Model);
+			SetLayoutItem(layoutItem);
+			if (layoutItem != null)
+				Model.TabItem = this;
 			//UpdateLogicalParent();
 		}
 
diff --git a/source/Components/AvalonDock/DockingManager.cs b/source/Components/AvalonDock/DockingManager.cs
index 4a72db1c..fe45fac0 100644
--- a/source/Components/AvalonDock/DockingManager.cs
+++ b/source/Components/AvalonDock/DockingManager.cs
@@ -1714,6 +1714,8 @@ internal void ExecuteCloseCommand(LayoutDocument document)
             }
             if (!document.CloseDocument()) return;
             RemoveViewFromLogicalChild(document);
+            if (document.Content is UIElement uIElement)
+                RemoveLogicalChild(uIElement);
             DocumentClosed?.Invoke(this, new DocumentClosedEventArgs(document));
         }
 
diff --git a/source/Components/AvalonDock/Layout/LayoutContent.cs b/source/Components/AvalonDock/Layout/LayoutContent.cs
index dedce6a2..3eb08602 100644
--- a/source/Components/AvalonDock/Layout/LayoutContent.cs
+++ b/source/Components/AvalonDock/Layout/LayoutContent.cs
@@ -462,6 +462,11 @@ public bool IsEnabled
 
 		#endregion IsEnabled
 
+		#region TabItem
+		public LayoutDocumentTabItem TabItem { get; internal set; }
+
+		#endregion TabItem
+
 		#endregion Properties
 
 		#region Public Methods
@@ -723,6 +728,7 @@ internal void CloseInternal()
 
 			parentAsContainer.RemoveChild(this);
 			root?.CollectGarbage();
+			this.Content = null;
 			OnClosed();
 		}
 
diff --git a/source/Components/AvalonDock/Themes/generic.xaml b/source/Components/AvalonDock/Themes/generic.xaml
index 2c1b6372..41dee3c0 100644
--- a/source/Components/AvalonDock/Themes/generic.xaml
+++ b/source/Components/AvalonDock/Themes/generic.xaml
@@ -754,6 +754,8 @@
     </Style>
 
     <Style TargetType="{x:Type avalonDockControls:LayoutDocumentTabItem}">
+        <Setter Property="ContentTemplate" Value="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplate, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
+        <Setter Property="ContentTemplateSelector" Value="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplateSelector, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
         <Setter Property="Template">
             <Setter.Value>
                 <ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type avalonDockControls:LayoutDocumentTabItem}">
@@ -769,11 +771,7 @@
                                     <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto" />
                                 </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                                 <Border Grid.ColumnSpan="3" Background="Transparent" />
-                                <ContentPresenter
-                                    Content="{Binding Model, RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}}"
-                                    ContentTemplate="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplate, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}"
-                                    ContentTemplateSelector="{Binding DocumentHeaderTemplateSelector, Mode=OneWay, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type avalonDock:DockingManager}, Mode=FindAncestor}}" />
-
+                                <ContentPresenter />
                                 <Button
                                     x:Name="DocumentCloseButton"
                                     Grid.Column="2"