Betty White Left Money for the L.A. Zoo, but the Trust Hit a Legal Roadblock

Betty White left instructions for regular donations to support the Los Angeles Zoo, but a change in the zoo’s nonprofit relationships has created a legal problem for the trust carrying out her wishes. The trustee is now asking a California judge to modify the trust so the money can still reach the zoo.

The Original Route for the Donations No Longer Works

ABC News and TMZ reported that White’s trust directed donations through the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, a nonprofit that had worked with the zoo. That relationship has since ended, leaving the trust language tied to an organization that is no longer serving the same role.

The trustee’s request does not seek to redirect White’s gift away from the zoo. Instead, the filing asks for authority to use another entity that currently works with the Los Angeles Zoo so the donations can continue to support the institution White intended to benefit.

The Filing Centers on White’s Longstanding Intent

White, who died in 2021 at age 99, was widely associated with animal welfare during her life. The legal filing described by TMZ says her trust was last modified in 2020 and included regular support for the zoo.

The complication is administrative but consequential: the trust names a specific channel for the money, and that channel no longer has the same relationship with the zoo. Without court approval, the trustee is seeking clarity before changing how the gift is delivered.

The Court Has Not Yet Approved the Change

A judge has not yet ruled on the trustee’s request. Until that happens, the money White intended for the zoo remains caught between the wording of the trust and the current structure of the organizations around the zoo.

The case now turns on whether the court will allow the trust to preserve White’s stated purpose by changing the route, rather than the destination, of the donations.

References: New legal battle over Betty White’s estate | Betty White: Drama Over Late Actress’ Trust Money For L.A. Zoo