To illustrate the potential legal complexities surrounding Hackman’s estate, Keystone has compiled a timeline of key events that could play a role in potential disputes over his will or trust.
September 1994 – Hackman establishes the GeBe Revocable Trust, naming Arakawa as the beneficiary of the remaining trust assets. (Source: USA Today)
July 7, 2004 – Hackman appears on “Larry King Live,” appearing lucid as he discusses his retirement from acting, a recent heart procedure and other topics. (Source: Dailymotion)
June 7, 2005 – Hackman creates the Gene Hackman Living Trust and amends his will. (Source: USA Today)
September 2005 – Arakawa creates her will.
June 1, 2011 – Hackman gives a clear and composed interview to the magazine GQ.
September 7, 2019 – Sutin, Hackman’s former attorney and the named successor personal representative in both Hackman’s and Arakawa’s wills, passes away.
February 10, 2025 – Arakawa cancels her February 12 appointment with Cloudberry Health, a medical concierge service, stating that she needs to care for Hackman. (Source: Buzzfeed)
February 11, 2025 – Arakawa visits a grocery store, pharmacy and pet store, and exchanges emails with a massage therapist. Data from a garage clicker shows Arakawa arrived home at approximately 5:15 p.m. (Source: Buzzfeed)
February 12, 2025 – Arakawa reaches out to Cloudberry Health again for medical advice regarding congestion. However, the medical concierge service informs her that she must be seen in person since she has not formally established care. Notably, she does not report experiencing shortness of breath, chest pain or respiratory distress. (Source: Buzzfeed)
February 12, 2025 – Arakawa is presumed to have died from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. (Source: New York Post)
February 18, 2025 – Hackman is presumed to have died from severe heart disease, with Alzheimer’s disease being a contributing factor. (Source: BBC)
February 26, 2025 – Hackman’s and Arakawa’s bodies are discovered after maintenance workers from their gated community call 911, reporting that the couple has not been seen for two weeks. (Source: Buzzfeed)
March 6, 2025 – Peters, the second successor personal representative of Hackman’s estate, files a petition with the court to informally admit Hackman’s will to probate and approve her appointment as personal representative. The court approves her petition on the same day. (Source: USA Today)
March 7, 2025 – Notice of Peters’ appointment as personal representative is mailed to Hackman’s three children. (Source: USA Today)
March 13, 2025 – Peters files a petition with the court stating that “there are trust assets to be administered in both the Gene Hackman Living Trust and GeBe Revocable Trust,” noting that the GeBe Revocable Trust “passes through the will of Gene Hackman to the Gene Hackman Living Trust.” (Source: USA Today)
March 14, 2025 – TMZ reports that Hackman’s son, Christopher Hackman, has hired a well-known California estate planning and probate attorney.
March 17, 2025 – Peters files a petition requesting the appointment of a new temporary successor trustee, as Hackman had designated Arakawa, who predeceased him, as the successor trustee of his trust but had not named an alternate. (Source: Yahoo! News)
March 17, 2025 – At Peters’ request, a New Mexico court grants a temporary restraining order to prevent the public release of any photographs or videos showing Hackman or Arakawa inside their home. Peters argued that the petition was necessary to protect the family’s constitutional right to privacy during their grief under the 14th Amendment. However, the court allowed the release of redacted body cam footage showing authorities’ interactions with the maintenance workers outside the couple’s residence before they entered the home. (Source: AP)
March 20, 2025 – Peters’ petition to appoint Avalon Trust, LLC, as the new temporary successor trustee for Hackman’s trust is granted. (Source: Yahoo! News)
