Family fights over an aging loved one end up in court through guardianship and conservatorship proceedings all too often, especially in second-marriage families.
Then there’s the family of Zsa Zsa Gabor, a ninth-marriage family. Gabor’s ninth husband, Prince Frederic von Anhalt, and her daughter, Francesca Hilton, have famously been fighting each other for years. Hilton says she is not happy with the way her step-father is controlling Gabor and isolating her, and filed a court case after von Anhalt announced that he wanted his 94-year-old wife to be a mother again via a surrogate mother, an act that could in fact make Gabor a parent again, at least legally.
Ultimately, the question of whether Gabor needs a conservator will come down to whether or not her care or finances have been compromised. Planners with clients whose families are involved in this type of legal struggle over an elderly parent should keep in mind that there are two sides (at least) to every story, and these kinds of allegations are not always easy to prove.
Hilton’s attorney filed the conservatorship paperwork in the Los Angeles probate court on March 20. Interestingly, the case was assigned to the same judge who is handling
In her petition to the court, which you can read
Hilton also makes accusations about the finances. She says that von Anhalt has allowed the house to go into foreclosure. Hilton’s petition includes a copy of a recent notice of default filed against the home by the bank that holds the mortgage. She accuses von Anhalt of taking out a $700,000 loan against the house, but says he hasn’t been using it to make mortgage payments. Hilton says Gabor and von Anhalt signed a prenuptial agreement, keeping her money out of his control, and this loan undermined Gabor’s wishes.
So how did the publicity-loving von Anhalt respond to the news of this court case? He held a press conference, of course. TMZ has the video footage, which you can watch
Will the Judge intercede and order that Hilton be allowed more time to see Gabor before she passes away? And will the Judge attempt to find peace in the family by appointing a neutral, third-party conservator to manage the situation, given the obvious hatred that both sides have for one another? We’ll watch closely to find out.
If a client of yours ever finds himself or herself in a similar situation, where an elderly family member is at risk — or if someone is challenging the level of care that your client is providing — then it may be time for your client to speak with an experienced attorney who regularly handles
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