Gene Hackman Signed His Will 20 Years Ago, Making It 'Exponentially Harder' to Contest: Legal Expert

Mar. 15, 2025

Gene Hackmanand his wifeBetsysigned their wills in 2005, and any potential challenge to the contents of theirwillsmay be hard to dispute, a legal expert explains.

Trust and familylaw 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 movieWelcome 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.

Gene Hackman on Jan. 19, 2003.Robert Mora/Getty

Robert Mora/Getty

“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.”

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Gene Hackman.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Whether information regarding Gene’s trust will be made public remains unclear, but without that information, it’s impossible to know whether Gene’sthree adult children— Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58, whom he had with first wife Faye Maltese — are included, Esquibias says.

TMZreported 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.

Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman circa 1986.Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

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.

source: people.com