A judge has validated the late Aretha Franklin’s handwritten 2014 will, found tucked under couch cushions. This Monday ruling ensures that her sons rightfully inherit her real estate holdings.
The Detroit-area jury, faced with deciphering scribbles and unclear text, declared the will valid under Michigan law four months back. Franklin’s personal touch, including a smiley face in her initial, confirmed the authenticity of her intentions.
When Aretha Franklin passed away in August 2018, the initial belief was that she left no Will, leading to the assumption that her assets would be distributed according to Michigan’s intestacy laws, the state of her residence. This scenario implied that her four sons would equally share her estate, a fortune potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars, a distribution that would align with Texas law under similar circumstances assuming no other surviving children. In light of this, the four sons unanimously decided to name their cousin, Sabrina Owens, as the personal representative of the estate.
This latest ruling replaces an earlier 2010 handwritten will, also discovered in Franklin’s suburban Detroit residence. Kecalf Franklin, her son, is set to inherit property initially valued at $1.1 million in 2018, its current value considerably higher. Labeled the “crown jewel” of Franklin’s estate, this property symbolizes her lasting legacy.
Ted White II, another son who previously favored the 2010 will, receives a Detroit house, although it was sold by the estate for $300,000 before the wills’ discovery. “Teddy is requesting the sale proceeds,” reported Charles McKelvie, attorney for Kecalf Franklin, highlighting ongoing financial negotiations within the family.
Judge Jennifer Callaghan’s decision also awards another property to Edward Franklin as per the 2014 will, further distributing the Queen of Soul’s assets among her heirs.
Aretha Franklin owned four homes at the time of her death from pancreatic cancer in 2018. The uncovering of two handwritten wills led to disputes among her sons over her real estate and other assets. Likely to be sold is one property worth more than $1 million, with proceeds to be shared by all four sons. The 2014 will, while expressing her wishes, left some ambiguity regarding this property’s distribution.
“We’ve made significant progress. The remaining issues are now fewer,” McKelvie commented, discussing the ongoing saga of Franklin’s estate.
The final resolution concerning Aretha Franklin’s valuable music assets is still pending. The will suggests shared income among the sons, but further discussions are scheduled for a status conference in January.
Franklin, a global icon and emblem of Black empowerment, left an enduring legacy with classics like “Think,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” and the anthem “Respect.” Her legacy, now partly secured through this court decision, continues to inspire and resonate in the community and beyond.
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