While reading about dead celebrity’s estates may seem ghoulish, it can also be considered educational. Often, we discover these individuals have not made plans, or the plans they did make were woefully outdated. And we can learn from their mistakes. However, in this case, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who passed away within a few days of each other, had wills. Read on for the “twist” that has come to light. This article, written by Tommy McArdle, was published online in People and most recently updated on 3/14/25.
“Gene Hackman’s late wife Betsy was named the successor trustee to his living trust, but it remains unclear whom the beneficiaries of that trust are:
- Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy signed their wills in June 2005, 20 years before they were both found dead in their home on Feb. 26
- A legal expert tells PEOPLE it is impossible to know who is named in Gene’s trust given that Betsy, whom he named successor trustee, died days before him
- Further details behind Gene’s trust have not been made public, though his will came to light March 14
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy signed their wills in 2005, and any potential challenge to the contents of their wills may be hard to dispute, a legal expert explains.
Trust and family law attorney David A. Esquibias, who is not affiliated with this matter, tells PEOPLE the fact that Gene and Betsy — who were both found dead in their home on Feb. 26 — signed their wills 20 years ago could make a contest to the will more unlikely.
“In this situation, Gene Hackman and his wife did not sign their will and trust in 2025 or 2024,” he says. “But, had that been the case, I think there was more likelihood that there’s gonna be a contest. But if you look at the dates of the will, they’re 2005.” Just one year after Hackman made his final movie Welcome to Mooseport, the actor “was younger and more virile” and “presumably had his faculties,” he adds.
He adds, “Contesting a 20-year-old document is exponentially harder than contesting a deathbed-signed document.”
Gene, who died at 95, and Betsy, who died at 65, named each other as the personal representatives of each others’ estates when they signed their wills in June 2005. Betsy was also named the successor trustee of the Gene Hackman Living Trust, but given Gene and Betsy’s deaths, Esquibias says it is impossible to say who the beneficiaries of Gene’s trust are because that information has not been made public.
“In this case, we don’t see who the beneficiaries are of the Gene Hackman trust because the Gene Hackman trust hasn’t been either publicly released or it’s not part of the probate proceeding. Typically, though, the probate proceeding, at least in California, the trust is usually included.”
Whether information regarding Gene’s trust will be made public remains unclear, but without that information, it’s impossible to know whether Gene’s three adult children – Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58, whom he had with first wife Faye Maltese — are included, Esquibias says.
TMZ reported March 14 that Christopher appeared to have hired trust and estate attorney Andrew M. Katzenstein. Esquibias says that hiring is “probably just routine, just, ‘Hey, let’s get some legal representation for some general advice.’ ” Katzenstein did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
“I don’t think in this case it probably means it too much,” he says.
Julia L. Peters, chief counsel at Avalon Trust Co., a Santa Fe investment firm, has been appointed as the personal representative of both Gene and Betsy’s estate moving forward; the remainder of Betsy’s estate is to go to her personal representative to hold in a charitable trust “to achieve purposes beneficial to the community, consistent with the charitable preferences and interests expressed or indicated by my spouse and me during our lifetimes,” as Betsy wrote in her individual will.
Additionally, Betsy’s will states she may have made a statement or list separately from her will that indicates whom she would give her personal property to.
Authorities revealed March 7 that their investigation found Betsy died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is caused by hantavirus, one full week before Gene, and that he was most likely alone in their home with his dead wife for days. Hackman died from a combination of severe heart disease, high blood pressure and advanced Alzheimer’s disease, authorities said.”
A big takeaway from this is that the will, should anyone choose to contest it, will be more challenging to do so, given its age. I do want to hasten to say that getting your estate plan, including your will and other legal documents, is not a “one-and-done” task. Virtually all estate planning attorneys recommend a review of your documents periodically. I offer a complimentary review of estate plans to my clients every three years. I have no idea if Mr. Hackman and Ms. Arakawa reviewed their plan at some point over the years and decided not to make any changes. That is possible. However, most people experience life events, such as having children, getting divorced, or coming into a significant inheritance, that warrant a review and possible update of their estate plan. Again, it is worth noting that, as the author points out, any contest based on whether they had their faculties or not would certainly be very difficult.
If this post is prompting you to consider updating your estate plan, I would be honored to assist you. Please note that part of the process involves thoroughly discussing and considering all possible scenarios to ensure your hard-earned assets and loved ones are well protected. Call me at 513-399-7526 or visit my website, www.davidlefton.com.
Source: People, written by Tommy McArdle, updated 3/14/25.