Jay Leno Files for Conservatorship of Wife’s Estate Amid Dementia Battle

Former host of NBC‘s The Tonight Show, Jay Leno, has taken legal steps to protect his wife Mavis Leno’s financial assets amid her battle with dementia. Leno filed for a conservatorship of his wife’s estate on January 26 at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles, according to court documents obtained by NBC News.

Mavis Leno’s progressively worsening dementia has resulted in her diminished capacity to execute an estate plan, as stated in the petition for the conservatorship. Leno is seeking substituted judgment from the court to ensure that Mavis’s desires regarding the disposition of her assets are realized. The couple, who have been married for 43 years and have no children, have maintained their financial affairs with Jay Leno at the helm.

The court documents reveal that Leno believes his wife consents to him being appointed conservator of her estate and that she would not prefer anyone else to fulfill this role. Following this filing, a court hearing has been scheduled for April 9.

Mavis Leno’s health battle with dementia has been kept private, with the couple never publicly discussing it. However, she has occasionally accompanied her husband to events, such as the Improv comedy club‘s 60th anniversary show in Hollywood last November.