Lisa Marie Presley's ex Michael Lockwood inches to Elvis's millions after being appointed legal guardian of their twins
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A court decision designated Lisa Marie Presley's ex-husband Michael Lockwood to be their twin children's legal guardian. This gives the ex-husband of Lisa Marie another shot at the multi-million dollar fortune of Elvis Presley’s only daughter after their acrimonious 2021 divorce.
A Los Angeles judge on Thursday, April 13, 2023, granted Michael Lockwood's request to be named 14-year-old Harper and Finley's "guardian ad litem", three months after their mother's death.
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The decision not only gives Lockwood guardianship of the youngest granddaughters of Elvis but also permits him to represent the girls in current probate proceedings involving their mother's multimillion-dollar trust.
Judge Lynn H Scaduto of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, granted Lockwood the custody of his two teen-aged daughters. In the court proceedings obtained by Daily Mail, it was mentioned clearly, “The court held a hearing on the ex parte petitions of Michael Lockwood, father of two minor trust beneficiaries, to be appointed by the court as their guardian ad litem in this proceeding.”
Lockwood's attorney Scott Rahn was heard saying during the proceeding, “Mr Lockwood is the girls' father, he is their natural guardian.” Rahn further added that Lockwood is “ready, able, and willing to protect their interests,” reports CNN. Since there was no opposition from either Priscilla Presley or Riley Keough's attorneys, the judge reasoned, “There is good reason to appoint a guardian ad litem for the girls,” reports Daily Mail.
The legal battle
The highly publicized case sees the surviving women of the Presley family battling at the court to grab a hold of ‘King of Rock and Roll’s’ fortune. In 2016, Michael Lockwood and Lisa Marie Presley separated following a ten-year marriage. The same year, Lisa Marie allegedly revised her will by removing Priscilla and her ex-manager Barry Siegel as trustees and replacing them with Riley and Benjamin Keough, her two children from a previous marriage. In 2020, Benjamin Keough died by suicide, leaving 'Daisy Jones and the Six' star Riley as the sole trustee.
According to the petition, Priscilla Presley was supposed to have received the amendment while her daughter was still alive in accordance with her Trust; however, the document allegedly misspells Priscilla's name. The petition also questioned the veracity of Lisa Marie Presley's signature and claimed that the alteration was not witnessed or notarized.
Just a few days after Lisa Marie was buried at Graceland, Elvis Presley's old home, Priscilla's legal representatives filed the petition.
Thus, the involvement of Lockwood opened another avenue in this already complicated legal battle regarding Lisa Marie’s trust. The will also contains the rights to ownership of the Graceland mansion and a 15 percent stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises (Lisa Marie previously sold 85% ownership of the enterprise). It also includes Lisa Marie’s two insurance policies worth $10 million and $25 million each.
The next hearing of the case is slated to be on May 16, where, if Priscilla’s petition is granted, she could be made the co-trustee of the estate along with Riley Keough.
'What a sad saga in the Presley legend'
The netizens were not taking kindly to the drama that unfolded in the Presley family. One fan commented, "I hope that a wise judge will see through this whole mess and rule accordingly in the best interest of the kids." Another Presley fan commented, "Good , because Petty Priscilla know them coins are not hers , her late daughters will stated exactly where and to whom those funds should be allocated . She was not one of them, shame on her for trying to swindle her grandkids."
The third commented, "That’s crazy to people that divorced out of the family wants control of the money it should be divided between all of Lisa Marie’s children with her oldest child being the executor why should it be put in these two people’s hands when they divorced out of the family."
I hope that a wise judge will see through this whole mess and rule accordingly in the best interest of the kids.
— suri _yaz (@suri_star) April 13, 2023
Good , because Petty Priscilla know them coins are not hers , her late daughters will stated exactly where and to whom those funds should be allocated . She was not one of them, shame on her for trying to swindle her grandkids.
— شانيل فرح (@SECRETWEETHEART) April 13, 2023
That’s crazy to people that divorced out of the family wants control of the money it should be divided between all of Lisa Marie’s children with her oldest child being the executor why should it be put in these two people’s hands when they divorced out of the family
— Asiedu Ebenezer (@ScientificMan1) April 13, 2023
One fan sided with Priscilla and said, "Go Priscilla you started the estate graceland its is n always should be yours its obvious Riley is playing dirty n that the ammendment was not notarized n delivered to her n names were forged." Another said, "Everyone justs wants the money."
Go Priscilla you started the estate graceland its is n always should be yours its obvious Riley is playing dirty n that the ammendment was not notarized n delivered to her n names were forged
— richard odea (@rwodea) April 13, 2023
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