A Los Angeles County Superior Court granted Jay Leno conservatorship over his wife, Mavis Leno, Tuesday.
Jay Leno filed for conservatorship after his wife of four decades was diagnosed with “advanced dementia” in January, according to People. Mavis’ lawyer said she was “in agreement” with the conservatorship and confirmed Mavis is “receiving excellent care with her husband, Mr. Leno.” Jay’s motive behind the petition was to establish a living trust for his wife, to ensure she has “managed assets” to provide her with future care, if Jay himself was to pass away before her, according to People.
Television host Jay Leno (L) and his wife Mavis Leno attend the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Fifth annual Global Women’s Rights Gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel on April 29, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
The judge agreed with Jay’s decision to move forward with this legal motion.
“I think she’s in the least restrictive environment. I think she’s in very good care with Mr. Leno,” the judge stated. She then looked directly toward Leno and said, “Everything you’re doing is right,” before she said, “I totally understand this is a difficult period,” according to People.
The judge confirmed that Mavis did “consent” to the conservatorship to the best of her current ability and also saw Jay as being “fit” to serve as her conservator.
Television personality Jay Leno and wife Mavis Nicholson arrive at Saks Fifth Avenue’s Unforgettable Evening honoring Lance Armstrong. Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Television personality Jay Leno and wife Mavis Nicholson attends the Fifth Annual Adopt-A-Minefield Gala night held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Jay told the court he is in the process of estate planning and is currently evaluating his wife’s will. All their assets are common property and there is no issue regarding division of any kind as part of the conservatorship, according to People.
The process moved through court without any animosity or disagreement. Mavis’ court-appointed counsel, Ronald Ostrin, filed a report stating Mavis was in agreement with the conservatorship. Ostrin went on to support and recommend the approval of Jay’s petition to be the official conservator of her estate, according to People.
Mavis’ neurologist, Dr. Hart Cohen, also supported the legal transition. Jay is “such a nice man and treats [Mavis] like gold,” court documents indicated he said, according to People.
Jay Leno (R) and wife Mavis Leno arrive at the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at Sunset Tower on February 26, 2012 in West Hollywood, California. Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Comedian Jay Leno (R) and wife Mavis Nicholson arrive at the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter held at the Sunset Tower on February 22, 2009 in West Hollywood, California. Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images
He went on to call Jay Leno “a standup guy” whose “private persona matches the public persona he projects.”
Ostrin was also able to shed light on Mavis’ current mental health status, revealing that she “sometimes does not know her husband, Jay, nor her date of birth.”
He noted she “has a lot of disorientation, will ruminate about her parents who have both passed, according to People. (RELATED: Cher’s Son Elijah Blue Allman Claps Back At Famous Mom’s Request For Conservatorship)
Jay and Mavis have been married since 1980.
