Ernie Kovacs's mother sued his widow, Edie Adams, over how she paid his tax debts

Ernie Kovacs died in a car crash in Los Angeles on January 13, 1962. Before his death the government had filed tax liens of $232,861.94 against him and his wife, Edie Adams. On February 13, 1962, a court appointed Adams administratrix. The estate was appraised at $1,966,472.88. Adams also received $500,000 from a life insurance policy and held $124,000 in joint property. In July and September 1962 she made agreements with the government to buy estate property free of liens. The money went first to the couple's joint taxes for 1958 through 1961. That reduced her own tax liability and used estate money that could have paid Kovacs's older separate tax debt. The government then moved against the $7,402.92 cash value of two policies payable to his mother, Mary Kovacs. In December 1962 Mary petitioned to remove Adams for misconduct. The probate court dismissed it, and the Court of Appeal reinstated it on May 19, 1964. A trial court ruled for Adams on October 14, 1965. On January 7, 1966, the Ninth Circuit let the government take the mother's insurance money. A concurring judge wrote: "an injustice is being done Mary Kovacs." Adams said she paid off about $500,000 in debt within five years. Their daughter Mia died in a car accident in 1982. In 2014 the Library of Congress acquired the couple's tapes and kinescopes from Ediad Productions.