Lisa Marie Presley's death in January 2023 has led to a legal battle over Graceland's inheritance between her daughter Riley Keough and Priscilla Presley.
Lisa Marie Presley passed away at the age of 54 due to complications from weight-loss surgery. Upon her death, Riley Keough, her daughter, became the sole heir to Graceland, the iconic home of Elvis Presley, which was turned into a museum in 1982.
As reported by Daily Mail, the situation took a dramatic turn when Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie's mother, challenged the legitimacy of her daughter's living will mere days after the funeral. This sparked a heated legal battle between Priscilla and Riley.
A Tennessee judge intervened to block a foreclosure auction of Graceland, issuing a temporary injunction to pause further actions. Priscilla escalated the dispute by filing a petition contesting an amendment to Lisa Marie’s living trust.
Lisa Marie's trust had originally named Priscilla and Barry Siegel as trustees in 2010. However, an amendment in 2016 replaced them with Riley Keough and her brother, Benjamin Keough, who passed away in 2020.
Priscilla challenged this amendment, alleging that she was not notified and highlighting several inconsistencies. During the dispute, allegations surfaced that forged signatures were used in documentation related to a $3.8 million loan associated with the estate.
In one instance, Riley Keough contested a foreclosure action, claiming it was based on fraudulent documents. This resulted in a temporary injunction blocking the auction.
The rift was deepened by Priscilla siding with Lisa Marie’s ex-husband, Michael Lockwood, in a custody battle over their twins, further straining the relationship before Lisa Marie's untimely passing.
Michael Lockwood's contentious divorce and subsequent custody battle involved his pursuit of substantial spousal and child support. This added another layer of complexity to the already fraught family dynamics.
During the legal skirmishes, reports emerged that Priscilla was barred from entering Graceland, an assertion swiftly denied by the estate's spokesperson. Amidst the public dispute, Priscilla urged fans to "ignore the noise" and expressed confidence in an amicable resolution.
After months of legal wrangling, Riley Keough and Priscilla Presley reached a settlement in May 2023, which was later approved by a judge in November. The settlement resolved the primary issues around the trust and inheritance rights. As part of the agreement, Priscilla received a lump-sum payment of $1 million, and her son Navarone Garibaldi was named a beneficiary of Lisa Marie’s trust. Additionally, Priscilla arranged to be buried near Elvis at Graceland.
Navarone Garibaldi, Priscilla's son, shared details of his past struggles with a fentanyl addiction, shedding light on the serious addiction issues that have plagued the Presley family over the years. Despite the ongoing legal challenges, Priscilla’s attorney, Ronson Shamoun, remarked that the family is content and unified and expressed optimism for the future. Similarly, Riley’s attorney, Justin Gold, noted her satisfaction with the settlement.
The death of Lisa Marie Presley not only prompted a bitter legal struggle over Graceland but also exposed long-standing familial rifts. With the recent settlement, Riley Keough and Priscilla Presley have taken a step toward resolving their differences, though some disputes remain unsettled.
