Judge in Tennessee blocks effort to put Elvis Presley's former home Graceland up for sale

A notary said the signature on a document was not actually hers.

ByJared Kofsky ABCNews logo
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Tennessee judge blocks effort to sell Elvis Presley's Graceland
A Tennessee judge on Wednesday blocked the auction of Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Elvis Presley's home of Graceland will not be hitting the auction block on Thursday after all.

In a hearing Wednesday that only lasted about eight minutes, Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins adjourned the sale of Graceland, saying, "The notary has sworn that the notary did not notarize the signature of Lisa Marie Presley on the deed of trust, which brings into question the authenticity of the signature."

The hearing on Wednesday in Tennessee was set to determine whether a dubious entity could proceed with an advertised plan to auction off the late singer's estate in Memphis.

Actress Riley Keough, Presley's granddaughter, was trying to stop a company called Naussany Investments and Private Lending LLC from conducting an auction outside the Shelby County Courthouse on Thursday at noon.

Keough is alleging the company presented fraudulent documents last September "purporting to show that Lisa Marie Presley had borrowed $3.8 million from Naussany Investments and gave a deed of trust encumbering Graceland as security," according to the court documents obtained by Memphis ABC affiliate WATN.

Keough is being represented by attorneys based in Memphis and Jacksonville, Florida. Both lawyers declined to comment to ABC News. It is not yet clear whether Naussany Investments has an attorney.

Jenkins said "Gregory Naussany" of Jacksonville filed a one-page motion for continuance and Jenkins denied the motion Wednesday.

"The court will adjourn the sale as requested because one, the real estate is considered unique under Tennessee law and in being unique, the loss of the real estate would be considered irreparable harm," Jenkins said.

Jenkins added, "Graceland is a part of this community, well loved by this community and indeed around the world."

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.