Gene Hackman's $80M estate case stalls over tax woes
Gene Hackman's $80M estate case remains open after a Santa Fe County judge filed a notice of inactivity, with personal representative Julia L. Peters citing pending IRS estate tax matters that must be finished before the estate can close, court papers obtained by Page Six show.
More than a year after the Oscar winner's death, the probate matter has not moved toward closing. Peters asked the court to keep the case open while tax work continues. For more celebrity breaking news, follow BlasterPost's ongoing coverage.
Key Takeaways
- A Santa Fe County judge issued a "notice of inactivity" after a long gap in filings in Gene Hackman's probate case.
- Personal representative Julia L. Peters says an estate tax return was filed with the IRS and related matters remain pending.
- The estate is estimated at $80 million; Hackman's June 7, 2005 will was described as validly executed.
- Peters took over after Betsy Arakawa and attorney Michael G. Sutin were both deceased when Hackman died.
Why has Gene Hackman's estate case stalled?
According to Page Six, court papers show the judge flagged inactivity because nothing had been filed "for a substantial period of time."
Peters responded that the estate filed an Estate Tax Return with the IRS. She wrote that pending tax matters relating to the estate need to be completed prior to closing. Lawyers involved in the case did not respond to Page Six's request for comment.
Who is handling the $80M estate?
Attorney Julia L. Peters filed to serve as personal representative on March 6, 2025. Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, had been named first, followed by the actor's attorney, Michael G. Sutin. With Arakawa and Sutin both deceased at the time of Hackman's passing, Peters took over.
Hackman's three children from a previous marriage to Faye Maltese — Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie — were not nominated to serve as personal representative. Lawyer Gregory W. MacKenzie filed an appearance on their behalf on March 20, 2025, but no further filings were made, Page Six reported.
What else is known about the case timeline?
Hackman and Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Feb. 26, 2025. Hackman's date of death was determined to be Feb. 18 at age 95. Arakawa, 65, died days earlier on Feb. 11 from hantavirus infection, a rare rodent-transmitted virus.
On Aug. 1, 2025, Peters said she had been working diligently on inventory and valuation of the decedent's property. An Oct. 24, 2025 filing stated she had prepared an inventory of property Hackman owned at death. Page Six previously reported the estate owed $98,345.29 on a Citibank credit card.
The couple's $6.25 million, 53-acre Santa Fe property was listed on Jan. 16 and found a buyer 11 days later. Despite reports the actor was estranged from his children at his death, his daughters and granddaughter said in a statement that he was "always just Dad and Grandpa" and that they were devastated by the loss.