Gene Hackman’s three children are preparing for a legal battle over the actor’s $80 million (£62 million) estate.

Hackman left his entire estate to his late wife, Betsy Arakawa, according to documents cited by the Daily Mail, which first reported the story.

The couple were found dead on Feb 26 in their home in New Mexico. Authorities said Mr Hackman died from heart disease with complications from Alzheimer’s and Arakawa from the rare rodent-borne hantavirus.

It is unclear if his three children – Christopher, Elizabeth Jean and Leslie Anne – will receive anything from his will.

Hackman, 95, made Arakawa, 65, the sole beneficiary of his estate in 1995 and last updated his will in 2005, the BBC reported.