14 March 2023 , 14:39
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Priscilla Presley is engaged in a bitter legal battle with granddaughter Riley Keough - and the fight over Graceland could rest on a spelling error.
Following the tragic death of Lisa Marie Presley in January, her mother and daughter have gone head-to-head over the will of Elvis Presley's only child and her $1billion empire.
Lisa Marie's living trust includes the Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee and a 15 per cent stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises, which together reportedly raked in £93m last year.
The King of Rock & Roll's home attracts fans from all over the world - with his daughter becoming the sole owner of the property when the trust holding her inheritance dissolved on her 25th birthday in 1993.
In 2013, Lisa Marie made it clear of her intentions to hand over the property to her family if anything happened to her, saying: "Graceland was given to me and will always be mine. And then passed to my children. It will never be sold."
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Elvis strolling the grounds of his Graceland estate in 1957 (Michael Ochs Archives)
Lisa Marie was Elvis and Pricilla Presley's daughter (Sygma via Getty Images)The family came together to lay Lisa Marie to rest at a public memorial service in January, but now they are more divided than ever.
Four days after the memorial, Priscilla, 77, filed a petition in court questioning the "authenticity" of a bombshell change to a document.
The amendment to Lisa Marie Presley's living trust, which can serve as a will after death, has seemingly cut Priscilla out of any claim to Elvis' estate.
Priscilla and Lisa Marie's former business manager, Barry Siegel, were removed as trust managers - and control given to her eldest children, Riley and Benjamin Keough.
Tragically, Benjamin died by suicide at the age of 27 in 2020, while sources say that Riley, 33, and gran Priscilla "do not see eye to eye".
Priscilla seeks to invalidate the 2016 amendment, claiming it was never delivered to her while Lisa Marie was alive, as required in the original trust.
While challenging the legitimacy of the document, she noted that her name was not spelled correctly.
Priscilla also claims that Lisa Marie's sign off 'appears inconsistent with her daughter's usual and customary signature' and was neither witnessed nor notarised.
Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, Riley Keough (Charbonneau/REX/Shutterstock)A legal expert believes the court is likely to back Priscilla's claim, which would see her become a co-trustee with Riley if the amendment is voided by court.
Cynthia Brittain, a lawyer at Karlin & Peebles, told The Mirror: "They're very good points. If everything is as they portrayed, the case law is pretty clear."
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If the courts decided the amendment is valid, Riley will be left in sole charge.
A source claimed Riley wanted to settle the matter in private, but that both parties are now "gearing up" to have their say in court.
"Riley has been mourning the loss of her mother and is heartbroken to have to deal with a trust dispute with a family member,2 an insider told Entertainment Tonight.
"Priscilla is adamant that she has a valid case and that she will prevail in court.
"Riley and Priscilla aren't communicating at this time, but have been in communication through lawyers."
While a close friend of Lisa Marie slammed Priscilla for challenging the will, saying it was "strictly a money grab".
Priscilla Presley with her daughter Lisa Marie (Getty Images)
Riley Keough, left, and her mother Lisa Marie Presley (REX/Shutterstock)"She had no relationship with Priscilla, [her ex-husband] Michael Lockwood or her half-brother [Navarone Garibaldi]," Lisa Marie's friend told People.
"Lisa lived her life authentically… She wouldn't remain quiet when she was being taken advantage of.
"At the end of the day, these are her wishes, and there's no question as to what her wishes were."
The Mirror has approached representatives of Riley and Priscilla for comment.
Another major point of contention has been Priscilla's supposed loyalty to Michael Lockwood, Lisa Marie's ex and father of their 14-year-old twins, Finley and Harper.
According to a Mirror source, Priscilla and her daughter's relationship had been fractured since Lisa Marie's split from Michael in 2016.
"I can assure you, in the last seven years of Lisa’s life, she never discussed with Priscilla any business," her friend explained. "She wanted each of her four children to have 5% of the estate.
"Priscilla doesn't want Riley solely in charge because then she has no say. It's a very sad situation."
(L-R) Harper Vivienne Ann Lockwood, Lisa Marie Presley, Priscilla Presley, Riley Keough, and Finley Aaron Love Lockwood (FilmMagic)After Lisa Marie and Michael split, there was a nasty custody battle over the twins that went on until last year.
Friends say Lisa Marie resented that Priscilla often appeared to side with Michael - with that tension trickling down to her eldest daughter.
"Riley was always on her mom’s side when it came to Michael," added the source.
There were claims this week that Priscilla had been 'locked out' of Graceland by Riley, who reportedly 'changed the locks on the upstairs doors and archives'.
The Memphis mansion is open to the public but the second floor has remained private, with only Presley family members allowed.
However, a source told Entertainment Tonight: "No locks at Graceland have been changed since Lisa Marie's passing."
Graceland reps have since denied the rumours, saying: "These reports are entirely untrue."
Lisa Marie has been laid to rest alongside Elvis and the rest of their family (Getty Images)Lisa Marie tragically died at the age of 54 on January 12 following a cardiac arrest.
Paramedics rushed to her house in Calabasas and transported her to hospital after being able to regain a pulse, but sadly she died while receiving treatment.
In a statement, her mum Priscilla said: "It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us.
"She was the most passionate strong and loving woman I have ever known. We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers. At this time there will be no further comment."
Her final resting place was at Graceland alongside her beloved relatives, including late father Elvis, grandparents Vernon and Galdys, and great-grandmother Minnie Mae Hood Presley.
Lisa Marie's grave was out next to her beloved son, Benjamin Keough, who took his own life in July 2020 aged 27.
They are all buried around a stunning fountain in the Meditation garden in Graceland - with a public memorial taking place in January this year.