Gene Hackman’s estimated $80 million fortune is at the center of a brewing family dispute after the actor passed away, and it appears that his children, who were reportedly cut out of his will, might be gearing up for a legal battle. According to reports, Hackman’s three children, who were estranged from him at various points, are now facing the possibility of a protracted legal fight over his estate.

It has been revealed that Gene Hackman’s two daughters, who live in California, were devastated by the news of their father’s passing and are grappling with the legal complications surrounding the will. In the wake of Hackman’s death, it has come to light that both of his spouses had already passed away, leaving behind significant ambiguity regarding the distribution of their combined wealth. Hackman’s will appears to have allocated everything to his surviving spouse, Betsy, with no mention of his children, and now with both spouses gone, the estate is ripe for interpretation.

Experts suggest that the situation is primed for litigation. With both Hackman’s former wives having passed away, legal experts predict that the inheritance will become the subject of a long and costly legal dispute. The presence of high-profile attorneys working on behalf of Hackman’s son, Christopher, indicates that the family is preparing for a substantial legal battle.

The timing and circumstances surrounding Hackman’s will have raised several questions. Hackman, who had been suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s disease, may not have been of sound mind when the will was signed. As a result, it is likely that the validity of the will could be challenged in court on the grounds of mental incapacity. Lawyers may argue that Hackman was not fully aware of his actions when making the decision to exclude his children from his estate, and this could open the door to challenging the will on legal grounds.

Further complicating matters is the fact that Hackman’s wife, Betsy, passed away just a week before him due to complications from a virus spread by rodents. Gene Hackman’s estate administrator is now requesting that certain documents and recordings from the scene, including body cam footage, be kept confidential. This request has raised concerns about what might be revealed about Hackman’s health and the circumstances leading up to his death.

The specific details surrounding Hackman’s final days remain unclear. The coroner’s report noted that Hackman’s stomach was empty at the time of his death, raising questions about whether he was able to care for himself in the days leading up to his passing. Additionally, the timing of his death in relation to his wife’s passing is crucial to the estate’s distribution. According to Betsy’s will, her property and assets were to be transferred to Hackman only if he survived her by at least 90 days. As Gene Hackman survived Betsy by only a week, her estate, under the terms of her will, would instead be directed to charity.

The intersection of family drama, legal complexities, and timing suggests that the resolution of Hackman’s estate will not be straightforward. The battle over his $80 million fortune is expected to drag on as his children seek to challenge the will and claim their portion of the inheritance. It remains to be seen how the case will unfold, but it’s clear that the Hackman family will be embroiled in a long and expensive legal dispute over the late actor’s estate.