Priscilla Presley Has 'Good' Chance in Lisa Marie Trust Battle but Case May 'Drag for Years': Experts
February 2, 2023 – Media MentionBenny Roshan, Trusts and Probate Litigation Group Chair, shared her insights with People regarding the estate of Lisa Marie Presley. Priscilla Presley has contested Lisa Marie's will and is calling into question the "authenticity and validity" of a 2016 amendment, which put the trust into the hands of her daughter Riley Keogh.
Excerpts:
"The law basically says follow whatever is in the document, and then the document says this is what you have to do," she explains. "So if the court is looking at it and truly those procedures were not followed, Priscilla has a good case of arguing that this new document that essentially replaces her is not valid. That's a good point if it was never followed."
"In the 2010 document, if Barry Siegel is not available to serve as a successful trustee, then Riley steps in to serve along with Priscilla, because the intention of the document as it's written, is that there'll be two co-trustees acting at any given point," she says.
"Cases like this depend on whether or not other interested parties and family members disagree with Priscilla's position. If no one objects it can be completed in as little as a few months," Roshan says. "If someone objects to her position and takes a contrary position, e.g. that the 2016 amendment is valid, the litigation can drag out for years."