Jay Leno Files For Conservatorship Of His Wife’s Estate Due To Heartbreaking Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Jay Leno has filed for a conservatorship of the estate of his wife, Mavis Leno, according to a report from NBC News. According to court documents, Leno’s wife of 43 years is suffering from dementia and is unable to execute an estate plan due to her condition.

“Unfortunately, Mavis has been progressively losing capacity and orientation to space and time for several years,” the petition for the conservatorship states. The petition seeks the court’s approval for substituted judgment to approve estate planning and implement a testamentary plan, according to NBC News. Leno believes his wife would execute the plan if she were capable.

“As Mavis’s current condition renders her incapable of executing the estate plan,” the petition states, “Jay has petitioned the Court to be appointed conservator of Mavis’s estate for the sole purpose of filing a petition for substituted judgment on her behalf in order to ensure her desires concerning the disposition of her assets upon her death are realized.”

The petition explains that the couple has been together for more than 43 years and that Leno has handled their finances throughout that time. Leno also asked the judge that Mavis not attend the court hearing on the conservatorship as it would be “detrimental to her mental and physical health.”

The legendary Tonight Show host told the court that he initiated the conservatorship in order to set up a living trust for Mavis to ensure that she has “managed assets” to provide her with future care in the event of Leno’s death.