Gene Hackman’s large estate could cause issues, according to an expert, following the deaths of the Hollywood icon and his wife, Betsy Arakawa at their home last month

Gene Hackman left an $80million estate(Image: Getty Images)

The deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa caused shockwaves across the globe last month and the drama could be ready to rumble on. The Hollywood icon is believed to have died aged 95 on February 18. His wife Betsy, 65, is thought to have died almost a week earlier.

Now, with the star’s $80million (£61.8million) fortune ready to be split, documents show all the people he listed as successor trustees have already died before he passed away. It has led to a representative of Hackman’s estate filing a petition to request a new temporary successor trustee is appointed.

On Thursday, District Judge Maria Sanchez-Gagne approved the request. Avalon Trust, LLC, was brought in a a temporary successor at the recommendation of the estate’s representative, Julia Peters.

Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman(Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Now, an estate-planning attorney has explained the issues that have come from Gene’s trusts. Speaking to Mail Online, founder of the 2-Hour Lifestyle Lawyer, Laura Cowan, said that Gene’s mistake could lead to serious complications over his massive estate down the line.

She explained the issue with Gene’s successor trustees all having passed and said Avalon Trust, LLC, being involved will ensure that “taxes are filed, beneficiaries are notified, and nothing slips through the cracks”.

She said: “While most details of a revocable living trust remain private, court filings related to disputes, trustee appointments, or probate of assets left outside the trust could reveal some information. While the full trust is unlikely to be made publicly available, key details like trustee powers or asset distributions could become part of the court record under specific circumstances.”

And it’s those special circumstances that could include whether heirs contest the trust. She went on: “Portions of it may be submitted as evidence in court. Or, if some assets were not properly transferred into the trust, they could go through probate, and court records may mention the trust as part of estate administration.”

She claimed due to Gene not changing his will for a number of years, there could be unnecessary complications. This could include further tax burdens, delays and additional probate costs. Despite Gene’s hefty estate worth, Cowan claimed any problems they face are not due to his wealthy status. “The first problem is that his will was 20 years old,” she said. “And now there’s the question about whether it really reflects his wishes.”

She added that the fact both he and his wife died around the same time could cause issues, too. “‘Also, it is interesting since they are 30 years apart in age,” she went on. “So they probably didn’t think they would die so closely, and now it could cause some legal problems.”

Earlier this month, the contents of the wills were revealed, with Gene leaving his fortune to his wife Betsy. However, it is unclear if his three children — son Christopher Allen, 65; and daughters Leslie Anne, 58; and Elizabeth Jean, 62; from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese were named as beneficiaries.