Michael Lockwood, the ex-husband of Lisa Marie Presley, has been granted legal guardianship of their twin daughters, Harper and Finley, despite speculation that this would be against the late star's wishes.
Lockwood, a musician left with limited financial resources after failing to overturn a postnuptial agreement during his contentious divorce from Elvis Presley's daughter, filed a petition in March to become the 14-year-old twins' legal guardian ad litem. LA Judge Lynn Healey Scaduto granted the request on Thursday, with Lockwood's attorney Scott Rahn stating that his client was "ready, able, and willing to protect their interests."
During the hearing, Judge Scaduto inquired if Lockwood, 61, had any pre-existing relationships with the parties involved in the case. Rahn asserted that they were all on good terms, saying, "Lockwood has a good, collegial, familial relationship with all of the parties involved. He is not only legally bound but also morally bound to protect [the twins'] interests."
However, a source told Page Six that Lockwood was not invited to Lisa Marie's funeral after her sudden death from cardiac arrest at the age of 54 in January. The source added that Lisa Marie's mother, Priscilla Presley, was responsible for his attendance at the Graceland ceremony in Memphis.
It remains unclear whether Lisa Marie left any instructions regarding the care of her daughters after her death. Lisa Marie filed for divorce from Lockwood in 2016 following a 10-year marriage, and the couple battled over finances and custody of the twins until her passing.
In March, Lisa Marie's attorney, Gary Fishbein, requested that Judge Joseph Lipner dismiss the case as his client was "sadly no longer with us." Full custody will be granted to Lockwood unless another family member challenges the ruling in probate court. The judge has not yet officially granted the dismissal request.
Besides granting Lockwood guardianship of Elvis' youngest granddaughters, the decision allows him to represent the girls in an ongoing probate case involving their mother's multi-million-dollar trust.
Lockwood maintains a close relationship with Priscilla, who is currently contesting an amendment to her daughter's estate that placed Lisa Marie's child Riley Keough in charge. The amendment removed Priscilla and Lisa Marie's former business manager Barry Siegel as co-trustees, giving control of the trust – including Graceland and a 15% stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE), which generated a reported $110 million in 2022 – to eldest daughter Keough, 33, and son Benjamin Keough, who has since died.
Lisa Marie sold most of her father's estate to SFX Entertainment in 2004, including the rights to his name and image, but retained Graceland. Page Six reported that she signed a 99-year lease with 81 years remaining on the house and its artifacts.
Priscilla, who claimed she was unaware of the 2016 amendment until after Lisa Marie's death, argued that it should be voided for various reasons, including that Lisa Marie had not informed her of the changes as required by the trust's terms.
Judge Brenda Penny, who released Britney Spears from her conservatorship, will preside over the hearing on May 16 after Priscilla requested a postponement from April 14. Meanwhile, a source familiar with the family confirmed that Keough and Priscilla recently had lunch in Beverly Hills.
Despite the ongoing legal battles, Presley has attempted to quell rumors of a family feud. Speaking at an "Evening with Priscilla Presley" event in Newcastle, England, last week, she told host Edith Bowman that reports of a family dispute originating from Memphis were "not true."
A longtime friend of Lisa Marie, who had been close to her for over 12 years, previously told Page Six, "Lisa would be pissed! She would be so upset that Priscilla is doing this. Riley is an amazing trustee... and Lisa's youngest daughters are in the best of hands with her."
As the family navigates the legal proceedings surrounding Lisa Marie's estate, the focus remains on the welfare of her twin daughters, now under the guardianship of their father, Michael Lockwood. The probate case over the late star's multi-million-dollar trust is still ongoing, with Priscilla Presley and Riley Keough working to resolve their differences.
The outcome of the May 16 hearing, overseen by Judge Brenda Penny, will shed light on the future management of Lisa Marie Presley's estate and the trust, which includes Graceland and a significant stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises. As family members attempt to dispel rumors of discord and focus on protecting the interests of Lisa Marie's children, it remains to be seen how the legal battles will unfold in the coming months.