Trust Law Partners Blog

You Don’t Have to Be a Celebrity to Need a Lawyer for a Trust or Will Dispute

The recent passing of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, has drawn public attention—not only for the loss of a Hollywood icon but also for the legal questions surrounding his estate. While estate disputes involving celebrities often make headlines, the reality is that trust and will disputes can happen to anyone. You don’t need an $80 million estate to run into legal conflicts over inheritance, beneficiaries, or trustee misconduct.

If you have concerns about how a loved one’s estate is being handled, or if you suspect that a will or trust does not reflect the true intentions of the deceased, legal action may be necessary. Understanding the common issues that arise in estate disputes and knowing your legal rights can help you protect your inheritance and ensure that justice is served.

The Gene Hackman Estate: A Cautionary Tale

Gene Hackman, known for his remarkable career in films like The French Connection and Unforgiven, recently passed away at the age of 95. His wife, Betsy Arakawa, died just one week earlier. His will, last updated in 2005, designated Arakawa as the sole beneficiary of his estate, which is estimated to be worth around $80 million. Notably, Hackman’s three children from a previous marriage were not included in his will.

A key provision in Arakawa’s estate plan stipulated that if she and Hackman died within 90 days of each other, her assets would go to charity instead of individual heirs. The true beneficiaries of the estate under these circumstances are unknown and probably will be unknown until a court interprets and rules on what will undoubtedly be a contentious battle between the charities and family members of both Hackman and Arakawa.

Notably, news reports state that Arakawa and Hackman also have trust instruments to direct how their assets should be distributed upon their deaths. For now, those trust instruments are private. So we don’t yet know who will inherit Arakawa’s assets, since Hackman did not survive her by 90 days. And we don’t yet know who will inherit Hackman’s assets, since Arakawa did not survive him and his trust may provide for other beneficiaries after her.

Any uncertainty in the trust documents may mean that a court will have to decide who the beneficiaries are. And given the size of Hackman’s estate, we can be sure that his children are considering filing a lawsuit if necessary to assert an interest in those assets. One of Hackman’s children has already hired a lawyer to help protect and assert his rights.

While this case involves a Hollywood star, the legal challenges and potential disputes over asset distribution are the same issues that affect everyday families across the country.

Why Trust and Will Disputes Happen—Even for Ordinary Families

Most people assume that estate planning is straight forward: a person writes a will or establishes a trust, and their assets are distributed according to their wishes after they pass away. Unfortunately, it’s rarely that simple. There are many reasons why disputes arise, often leading to litigation.

1. Outdated or Poorly Drafted Estate Plans

One of the biggest causes of estate disputes is outdated or ambiguous legal documents. A will or trust that was created decades ago may no longer reflect a person’s true wishes, especially if family circumstances have changed.

For example, Hackman’s will was written in 2005, nearly 20 years before his passing. In that time, his family dynamics, financial holdings, or personal wishes may have changed—but if he never updated his estate plan, those potential changes won’t be reflected in how his estate is distributed.

Many families face similar issues. If a will doesn’t explicitly name certain family members or isn’t worded clearly, beneficiaries may contest the document in court, arguing that it does not reflect the decedent’s true intentions.

2. Disinherited or Unfairly Treated Family Members

Another common dispute arises when certain heirs are left out of a will or receive a much smaller share of the estate than expected. This is especially true when there are children from previous marriages, as in Hackman’s case.

In some instances, individuals may challenge a will or trust, arguing that the decedent did not intend to exclude them. If a family member believes they were unfairly left out due to mistake, undue influence, or manipulation by another beneficiary, they may take legal action to dispute the estate plan.

3. Simultaneous Deaths or Confusing Succession Provisions

Hackman’s estate also raises a unique issue related to simultaneous deaths and the way succession rules are structured in estate planning documents. For example, Arakawa’s will contained a provision that redirected assets to charity if she and Hackman died within 90 days of each other.

And because Arakawa died before Hackman, even though he was much older, his assets will pass to whatever contingency beneficiaries he named in his trust. Otherwise, if he did not name contingent beneficiaries, the assets may pass to his children even if he intended to leave them out.

Many estate plans include contingency clauses that dictate what happens if multiple heirs pass away within a certain timeframe. While these provisions are intended to simplify inheritance matters, they can sometimes create new legal conflicts — especially if there is ambiguity over exact dates of death.

4. Undue Influence and Lack of Capacity

Estate disputes often involve claims of undue influence, where one person pressures or manipulates a vulnerable individual into changing their estate plan in a way that benefits them.

While there are no reports of undue influence in Hackman’s case, many families face this issue, especially when an elderly relative is dependent on a single caregiver or becomes isolated from other family members. If there is evidence that a will or trust was changed under suspicious circumstances, beneficiaries may challenge the estate plan in court.

5. Trustee or Executor Misconduct

When a person passes away, their estate is handled by an executor or trustee, who is responsible for managing assets, paying debts, and distributing property to beneficiaries. If this person fails to act in good faith, it can lead to legal disputes.

Some common issues involving trustees and executors include:

• Failing to provide an accurate accounting of estate assets
• Delaying distributions without a valid reason
• Favoring certain beneficiaries over others
• Misusing or taking estate funds for personal use

When beneficiaries suspect misconduct, they may need to take legal action to remove the trustee or executor and recover lost assets.

How Trust Law Partners Can Help

Trust litigation is complex and disputes over trust administration can quickly escalate into lengthy legal battles. At Trust Law Partners, LLP, we represent beneficiaries who are facing challenges in obtaining trust accountings, disputing improper trustee actions, or seeking court approval for necessary trust modifications.

If you are involved in a trust dispute and need legal guidance, we can help you. Our team specializes in trust litigation and is dedicated to ensuring that trustees follow the law and fulfill their obligations.

For a confidential consultation, contact Trust Law Partners, LLP at 626-956-3500 today.