The $35 million will of the late Lisa Marie Presley is the subject of a nasty legal dispute between Riley Keough and Priscilla Presley, in which the ex-wife of Elvis Presley questions the “authenticity and validity” of an amendment from 2016.
Riley Keough and Priscilla Presley are at odds, and it may come down to a typo to determine the outcome. Since Lisa Marie Presley’s tragic passing in January, the mother and daughter of the late singer have fought over the only child and her $1 billion empire.
Lisa Marie’s living trust owns the Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, as well as a 15% stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises, which reportedly made £93 million in 2017.
When the trust that protected his daughter’s inheritance ran out on the occasion of her 25th birthday in 1993, she became the sole owner of the house, which is now a popular tourist destination.
Graceland was given to me and will always be mine, Lisa Marie said in 2013. My children then received it from me after that. It won’t ever be put up for auction. Although Lisa Marie was laid to rest at a public funeral service in January, the family is now even further apart.
A petition to the court disputing the “authenticity” of a shocking document modification was filed by Priscilla, 77, four days after the memorial. The modification to Lisa Marie Presley’s living trust, which can act as a will after death, appears to have excluded Priscilla from any claims to Elvis’ estate. After Barry Siegel, Priscilla and Lisa Marie’s former business manager, was fired, Riley and Benjamin Keough, her oldest children, took over as trust manager.
In contrast to rumors that Benjamin, 27, committed suicide in 2020, Riley, 33, and Gran Priscilla, reportedly, “do not see eye to eye.”. Riley committed suicide before dying.
Priscilla claims that the 2016 modification was never given to her while Lisa Marie was still alive, as required by the original trust.
Since her name was misspelled on the document, she questioned its legality. Priscilla claimed Lisa Marie’s signature “appears inconsistent with her daughter’s usual and customary signature” and that it was not witnessed or notarized. If the amendment is upheld, Priscilla will join Riley as a co-trustee because the court is anticipated to support her petition, claims a legal professional.
They’re really good reasons, said lawyer Cynthia Brittain at Karlin. If all goes as planned, the case law is largely clear. “.
Riley will be able to handle it if she is left in charge, and the court will find the amendment to be acceptable. Riley wanted to settle the dispute privately, but according to sources, both parties are “gearing up” to give testimony in court.
Riley has been mourning the loss of her mother and is devastated to have to handle a trust dispute with a relative, according to a source cited by Entertainment Tonight. ”. “Priscilla is adamant that she will win the case in court and has a strong case.”. Riley and Priscilla aren’t speaking right now, but they have been in contact through lawyers.
According to a close friend of Lisa Marie, Priscilla’s will contest was derided as “strictly a money grab” and she was “disrespected for it.”. “Priscilla, [her ex-husband] Michael Lockwood, and her half-brother [Navarone Garibaldi] were all strangers to her,” a friend of Lisa Marie reportedly said. ”. “Lisa lived an honest life… She wouldn’t remain silent while she was being abused. “.
Her intentions were crystal clear; there was no ambiguity about them. “. The alleged devotion of Priscilla to Michael Lockwood, Lisa Marie’s ex-husband and the biological father of their now-14-year-old twins Finley and Harper, has also been a source of controversy. According to a source with the Mirror, there has been tension between Priscilla and her daughter ever since Lisa Marie and Michael divorced in 2016.
“I can guarantee you that she never discussed any business with Priscilla in the last seven years of her life,” Lisa’s friend said. She wanted to divide the estate equally among her four children, giving each one 5%. Priscilla does not want Riley to have complete control because Riley cannot speak. This unfortunate situation is. “. A contentious custody dispute for the twins persisted up until last year following Lisa Marie and Michael’s divorce.
The tension eventually reached Lisa Marie’s oldest child, according to witnesses, who was reportedly irritated by Priscilla’s frequent appearances as Michael’s supporter. The source claimed that Riley and Michael were always on her mother’s side. Riley is accused of “shutting out” Priscilla from Graceland by allegedly “changing the locks on the upstairs doors and archives.”. ‘.
The mansion in Memphis is open to the public. Only Presley family members are permitted on the second floor. No locks at Graceland have been changed since Lisa Marie’s passing, a source who spoke to Entertainment Tonight claimed. ”. The rumors have since been refuted by Graceland representatives, who stated: “These reports are completely false. “.
Lisa Marie passed away on January 12 at the age of 54 due to a heart attack. When her pulse started to come back, paramedics went to her Calabasas home and took her to the hospital, but she died while she was there. My beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us, I must break the heartbreaking news, said Lisa Marie’s mother.
She was the most fiercely loving, strong, and passionate woman I’ve ever known. As we struggle to process this tragic loss, we seek privacy. I value your prayers and encouragement. At this time, there won’t be any more remarks. “. She was interred at Graceland, where she also had her final resting place, along with her late father, Elvis Presley, grandparents Vernon and Gladys Presley, and great-grandmother Minnie Mae Hood Presley. The body of Lisa Marie was interred next to that of Benjamin Keough, who committed suicide in July 2020 at the age of 27.
In January of this year, a memorial service will be held in their honor. In Graceland’s Meditation Garden, they are all laid to rest close to a charming fountain.