Riley Keough and Priscilla Presley are involved in a nasty legal battle over the late Lisa Marie Presley’s $35 million will, with Elvis’ ex-wife challenging the “authenticity and validity” of a 2016 amendment.
A typo could decide the Graceland dispute between Priscilla Presley and her granddaughter Riley Keough.
Elvis Presley’s mother and daughter have fought over the late singer’s only child and her $1 billion empire since Lisa Marie Presley’s tragic death in January.
Lisa Marie’s living trust owns the Memphis, Tennessee, mansion Graceland as well as a 15% stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises, which reportedly earned £93 million in 2017.
When the trust that held his daughter’s inheritance expired on her 25th birthday in 1993, she became the sole owner of the home, which now draws tourists from all over the world.
In 2013, Lisa Marie said, “Graceland was given to me and will always be mine. After that, it was passed down to my kids. Never will it go up for sale”.
A public funeral service was held in January to lay Lisa Marie to rest, but the family is now more estranged than ever.
Four days after the memorial, Priscilla, 77, submitted a petition to the court contesting the “authenticity” of a shocking document modification.
It appears that Priscilla has been excluded from any claims to Elvis’ estate as a result of the modification to Lisa Marie Presley’s living trust, which can serve as a will after death.
Her eldest children, Riley and Benjamin Keough, took over as trust manager after Barry Siegel, Priscilla, and Lisa Marie’s former business manager, was fired.
Riley, 33, and Gran Priscilla reportedly “do not see eye to eye,” contrary to reports that Benjamin, 27, committed suicide in 2020. Riley passed away by suicide.
As required by the original trust, according to Priscilla, the 2016 modification was never given to her while Lisa Marie was still alive.
She contested the legality of the document, pointing out that her name was spelled incorrectly.
Lisa Marie’s signature, according to Priscilla, “appears inconsistent with her daughter’s usual and customary signature” and was not witnessed or notarized.
According to a legal expert, Priscilla will join Riley as a co-trustee if the amendment is upheld because the court is expected to support her petition.
Lawyer at Karlin Cynthia Brittain said, “They’re really good reasons. The case law is largely clear if everything goes according to plan. “.
If Riley is left in charge alone and the amendment is deemed legal by the courts, it will be.
Riley wanted to resolve the conflict privately, but sources claim that both parties are now “gearing up” to testify in court.
Entertainment Tonight quoted a source as saying, “Riley has been grieving the loss of her mother and is heartbroken to have to deal with a trust dispute with a family member.”.
“Priscilla insists adamantly that she has a good case and will prevail in court”.
“Riley and Priscilla aren’t speaking right now, but they have been communicating via attorneys”.
Priscilla’s challenge to the will, according to a close friend of Lisa Marie, was criticized as “strictly a money grab” and she was “disrespected for it”.
According to a friend of Lisa Marie, “Priscilla, [her ex-husband] Michael Lockwood, and her half-brother [Navarone Garibaldi] were all strangers to her.”.
“Lisa lived an honest life… She wouldn’t keep quiet while she was being taken advantage of. “.
There was no question about her wishes; they were clear at the end of the day. “.
Another point of contention has been Priscilla’s alleged devotion to Lisa Marie’s ex-husband Michael Lockwood, who is also the father of their twins Finley and Harper, who are now 14 years old.
An insider with the Mirror claims that since Lisa Marie and Michael’s divorce in 2016, Priscilla and her daughter have had a strained relationship.
Lisa’s friend said, “I can assure you that she never discussed any business with Priscilla in the last seven years of her life. She wanted each of her four children to get 5% of the estate.
Riley lacks a voice, so Priscilla doesn’t want Riley to have total control. It’s a terrible predicament. “.
Following Lisa Marie and Michael’s divorce, a contentious custody battle for the twins continued until last year.
According to witnesses, Priscilla’s frequent appearances as Michael’s supporter irked Lisa Marie, and the tension eventually reached her oldest child.
Riley was always on her mother’s side with Michael, the source said.
Riley, who allegedly “changed the locks on the upstairs doors and archives,” allegedly “shut out” Priscilla from Graceland. ‘.
The public is welcome to visit the mansion in Memphis. Family members of the Presleys are the only ones allowed on the second floor.
According to a source who spoke to Entertainment Tonight, “No locks at Graceland have been changed since Lisa Marie’s passing.”.
Reps for Graceland have since denied the rumours, declaring, “These reports are entirely false. “.
A heart attack claimed Lisa Marie’s life on January 12 at 54.
When her pulse returned, paramedics went to her Calabasas home and transported her to the hospital, but she passed away while receiving treatment.
Lisa Marie’s mother, said, “I must break the heartbreaking news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us.
She was the most ferociously loving, powerful, and passionate woman I’ve ever met. We want privacy as we struggle to come to terms with this tragic loss. I appreciate your prayers and support. There won’t be any more comments at this time. “.
Along with her late father, Elvis Presley, grandparents Vernon and Gladys Presley, and great-grandmother Minnie Mae Hood Presley, she was interred at Graceland, where she also had her final resting place.
Benjamin Keough, who died by suicide in July 2020 at 27, was buried next to Lisa Marie.
A memorial service for them will be held publicly in January of this year. They are all interred near a lovely fountain in Graceland’s Meditation Garden.
