Gene Hackman Bequeathed His Fortune to Late Wife, Leaving Legal Loophole & Children Seeking Lawyers

The late Gene Hackman, a highly acclaimed actor who won two Oscars, has been in the news again as details about his will have been revealed. According to documents obtained by TMZ, Hackman has designated his wife, Betsy Arakawa, as the only person who will inherit his estate. However, there’s a surprising detail: his three children, Christopher, Leslie, and Elizabeth, are not mentioned in the will at all.

Hackman reportedly made this decision final in 1995, which has caused a lot of discussion among fans and legal experts. The documents state, “Betsy is his sole beneficiary,” meaning that all the wealth Hackman earned during his successful Hollywood career will go entirely to her.

What makes this situation even more interesting is the timing of Hackman and Arakawa’s recent deaths. The couple was found dead in their New Mexico home last month, and officials believe they had been there for more than a week. Betsy’s death was caused by hantavirus, a rare and serious illness, while Gene died from cardiovascular disease about a week later. Reports also mention that Hackman had been struggling with Alzheimer’s disease, which has led to questions about whether he was fully able to make decisions about his estate as he intended.

Although Hackman’s will names Betsy as the only beneficiary, the close timing of their deaths creates a complicated legal issue. If both died within 90 days of each other, they could be considered to have died at the same time under the law. This would change how their assets are handled. Betsy’s will includes a rule that, in such a case, her estate would go to charity instead of to Gene’s heirs.

This situation adds another layer to the question of Gene’s legacy. Because they lived in New Mexico, a state with community property laws, it’s likely that Betsy’s assets could play a big role in how Gene’s fortune is distributed, especially if there was no prenuptial agreement. Even though Hackman’s children were not named in the will, legal experts say they might still inherit part of his estate as his direct heirs.

Reactions to the will have been mostly speculative, but Hackman’s son, Christopher, has reportedly hired Andrew M. Katzenstein, a California trust and estate lawyer, suggesting that he might challenge the will on behalf of himself and his siblings. This move highlights the complicated relationship Hackman had with his children, which he once described as strained during his acting career. However, he also mentioned that he had been working on improving his relationship with them in the years before his death.

As for Betsy, her will leaves most of her assets to Gene, with similar rules about what happens if they died at the same time. Reports also say that Julia Peters, a representative for the estates, has filed legal requests to stop authorities from releasing sensitive materials, such as body camera footage related to their deaths, to protect the privacy of Hackman and Arakawa.

Sources: The Mirror, TMZ, Daily Express, dailymail