Jay Leno Files for Conservatorship Over Wife Mavis' Estate After Dementia Diagnosis

The couple have been married since 1980

Jay Leno has filed for conservatorship for his longtime wife Mavis, who he says has been diagnosed with dementia.

The former Tonight Show host made the filing on Friday, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE. He stated in the paperwork that he initiated the conservatorship in order to set up a living trust for Mavis to ensure that she has "managed assets" to provide her with future care if he died.

In the filing, first obtained by TMZ, Leno said that Mavis does not contest the establishment of a conservatorship and does not prefer another person to act as conservator. Leno also asked the judge that Mavis not attend the court hearing on the conservatorship as it would be "detrimental to her mental and physical health."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, dementia impairs a person's ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with doing everyday activities.

Representatives for Leno did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Related: Who Is Jay Leno's Wife? All About Mavis Leno

This is the first time Leno has addressed his wife's health.

Mavis was with the former late show host while he recovered from his injuries from second and third degree burns after a gasoline fire in 2022. He had been working on a steam engine underneath a car in his garage when the fire started.

Dr. Peter Grossman, a plastic surgeon and medical doctor at the Grossman Burn Center and West Hills Hospital where Leno was treated, said that Mavis was "obviously very concerned" while Leno went through recovery.

"She's by his side," Grossman said. "They have a very close relationship, and she's doing as well as you can expect a wife who is concerned about her husband.”

Related: Jay Leno's Doctor Shares Wife Mavis Is 'Obviously Very Concerned' as He Recovers from Severe Burns

During a Dec. 14, 2022, appearance on the Today show, Leno said he was also concerned about his wife during the ordeal. While the late-night veteran was urged by doctors to go straight to the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles, he decided to go home first.

"My wife doesn't drive anymore and I didn't want her stuck and not knowing what was going on," Leno explained. "It just seemed like the right thing to do, and I think it was."

Host Hoda Kotb asked, "So you loved your wife more than you worried about yourself?” to which he responded, "Yeah, that's it!"

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The comedian initially met his wife after he performed at the iconic Comedy Store in the '70s, and tied the knot in 1980. Leno previously joked to PEOPLE about the secret to their long-lasting marriage, saying, "Not screwing around is a huge key. You can do a lot. You can leave your underwear on the doorknob for the rest of your life if you don't screw around."

All jokes aside, Jay shared, "I always tell guys when they meet a woman, 'Marry your conscience. Marry someone who's the person you wish you could be and it works out okay.'"

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