Veteran comedian and former talk show host Jay Leno filed for conservatorship for his wife Mavis’ estate in January, but postponed the decision out of concern for his longtime wife, who suffers from dementia.
Fox News Digital obtained new documents filed by Mavis’ court-appointed attorney, Ronald E. Ostlin, detailing Mavis’ current condition. Ostrin consulted a neurologist, Dr. Hart Cohen, who revealed that in addition to Mavis’ advanced dementia, she “doesn’t know her husband Jay or her date of birth. “There is,” he said.
“She suffers from severe disorientation and sometimes ruminates about her deceased parents and her mother, who passed away some 20 years ago.”
Jay Leno files for conservatorship to ‘protect’ wife’s assets due to dementia diagnosis: Expert
Jay Leno and his wife Mavis celebrated their 60th anniversary in improv in November 2023, two months before Leno filed as conservator of his wife’s estate. (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
After a car accident in 2018, Mavis turned to Cohen and they still see each other. “According to Dr. Cohen,” Ostrin writes, “Mr. Leno loved his wife very much and waited to bring up the matter out of respect for her. He believed that Mr. Leno was “a very nice person. And he treated me well.” [Mavis] It’s like gold. ”
The two met at the Comedy Store in the 1970s and have been married since 1980.
Ostrin also detailed his experience with Mavis, 77, who he spoke to in person at the apartment he and Leno shared. “Ms. Leno was a pleasant person. Although it was clear that she had a cognitive impairment, she still had an engaging personality and was able to communicate,” he wrote.
Jay Leno and his wife Mavis married in 1980. They have no children. (Michael Thalberg/Getty Images)
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“She expressed her desire to vote and told us a little about her philanthropic work. She had tremendous trust and confidence in Mr. Leno and relied on him for protection and guidance.”
Ostrin also detailed why Leno did not file for his own personal conservatorship, only for her assets. “One of the questions the court will have is why not seek conservatorship for her person. I asked Dr. Hart-Cohen about this. [Leno’s] lawyer. Dr Cohen said Mavis was already prescribed medication for the care and treatment of major neurocognitive disorders (including dementia) and could continue to do so without an order or personal guardianship at this time. Stated. ” he explained.
Jay Leno only filed for conservatorship over his wife Mavis’ estate, not her personally. (Barry King/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
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“The purpose of estate planning in lieu of judgment is to create an estate plan so that if something were to happen to Mr. Leno, a guardianship claim for that person would be promptly filed under the estate plan. A guardian will be appointed immediately.”
In recent years, the former “Tonight Show” host has had a number of health issues of his own. In November 2022, Leno suffered severe burns in a gasoline accident at a Burbank garage. He was admitted to Grossman Burn Center and treated in a hyperbaric chamber.
Jay Leno has suffered not one, but two serious accidents in the past two years. He is pictured here with severe burns to his face from a garage accident. (MEGA/GC image)
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In January 2023, Leno suffered further injuries, motorcycle accident And he broke a few bones, which he revealed during a stand-up gig.
The 73-year-old comedian recently said he won’t close up shop “unless I have a stroke.” “That slows me down,” he admitted to Page Six in May. “That’s when I retired, that’s when I had my stroke,” he joked.
An appointment hearing in the conservatorship case is scheduled for April 9 in Los Angeles.
