What We Can Learn from Jay Leno
We are celebrating National Elder Law Month throughout May. Last week we shared Partner Lisa Valente’s podcast from My Hometown Radio Show. This week we look at how Jay Leno is handling the challenges of caring for a wife suffering from dementia, and how planning ahead might have helped him.
Why Planning Ahead is Important
It’s not necessary to wait until old age to create an estate plan! In fact, it’s much better to do it ahead of time, because life can be unpredictable. How might things have been different for Jay Leno had he and his wife had an estate and disability plan in effect before they needed it?
Jay and Mavis Leno
You undoubtedly are familiar with Jay Leno, the beloved former late night talk show host and renowned car buff. In November 1980, Leno married his wife, Mavis.The couple have been together ever since — over 40 years of marriage. Unfortunately, Mavis Leno began suffering from dementia, and in 2024 Leno asked a court to appoint him as conservator of her estate. The request was granted by a California judge because Mavis is unable to independently manage her financial affairs due to her dementia. [A conservatorship is similar to a guardianship in New York — the process is lengthy and expensive, and can be avoided with the use of advance directives such as a Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney.]
When the petition was filed in 2024, Jay Leno requested conservatorship so that he could execute an estate plan on his wife’s behalf. (It is unfortunate that she did not have an estate plan in advance). The judge granted Leno’s request, noting that Leno has primarily managed the couple’s finances throughout the marriage.
How Are They Today?
Recently, Jay Leno had a long-ranging interview with Graham Bensinger where he discussed the current situation. He said the couple generally does “what we did before, except now I have to feed her and do all those things.”
“I like it. I like taking care of her,” Leno said. “She’s a very independent woman, so I like that I’m needed.”
Planning Ahead
Leno might have avoided some of the hassle had he and Mavis created an estate plan years ago, when she was still competent to do so. Additionally, the Lenos should have had a plan in place in case either one of them became disabled which might have avoided the necessity of a lengthy and expensive court proceeding.
Stay tuned as we continue to celebrate Elder Law Month! Estate planning is our specialty and we would be pleased to assist you with yours. Please call or e-mail for a consultation regarding your estate and disability planning needs. We look forward to hearing from you!
