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The recently disclosed wills of Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, outline a carefully structured plan for their estates, naming each other as primary beneficiaries while ensuring their three children inherit Hackman’s assets. The documents, filed in Santa Fe, New Mexico, also reveal a shared commitment to philanthropy through a charitable trust, as reported by CWEB News.
The couple, found deceased in their Santa Fe home earlier this year, left behind a legacy intertwined with love, artistry, and meticulous estate planning. Authorities confirmed to CWEB News that Hackman, 94, succumbed to complications from severe heart disease, advanced Alzheimer’s, and hypertension, while Arakawa, 80, tragically passed away a week prior due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome—a rare illness often linked to rodent exposure.
Estate Details Unveiled
According to legal documents obtained by CWEB News, Hackman’s 2005 will appointed Arakawa as the personal representative of his estate. In the event of her death, attorney Michael G. Sutin was named successor, followed by Julia L. Peters after Sutin’s passing in 2019. The Oscar-winning actor also designated the remainder of his assets to the GeBe Revocable Trust, established in 1995, which benefits Arakawa. Upon her death, the trust’s residual assets pass to Hackman’s three children from his first marriage to Faye Maltese: Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58.
Arakawa’s will, also drafted in 2005, mirrored her husband’s intentions. She named Hackman as her estate’s inheritor after covering funeral and administrative costs. Should he predecease her, her assets were to flow into a charitable trust honoring causes “important to [them] during their lifetimes.” With Hackman’s death following hers, CWEB News confirms the charitable trust is now activated, aligning with the couple’s philanthropic values.
A Family’s Legacy and Unanswered Questions
While Hackman’s children are positioned to inherit his estate, questions linger about the division of assets between family and charity. Legal experts suggest the GeBe Trust and Arakawa’s charitable trust could work in tandem, ensuring both heirs and the couple’s favored causes benefit.
Hackman and Arakawa, married in 1991, shared a quiet life in Santa Fe after he retired from acting in 2004. Their deaths, just days apart, paint a poignant picture—authorities believe Hackman remained in the home with Arakawa’s body for nearly a week before his passing.
A Philanthropic Vision
The couples will emphasize their dedication to giving back. Though specific charities were not named, sources close to the family told CWEB News that environmental conservation and arts education were among their passions. The trusts’ executors now face the task of interpreting these wishes while balancing familial inheritances.
As legal proceedings unfold, fans and admirers remember Hackman for iconic roles in The French Connection and Unforgiven, while CWEB News continues to track updates on this evolving story.
Stay with CWEB News for further developments on Gene Hackman’s estate and insights into the charitable initiatives shaping his enduring legacy.
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