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Navigating the Inheritance Maze: Your Guide to Probate, Will Disputes, and Estate Challenges

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Could Aretha Franklin’s smiley face become a landmark legal decision?

Landmark Case: Handwritten Note Found Under Aretha Franklin’s Sofa Confirmed as Legal Will

In a recent court ruling in the USA, a handwritten note found underneath the late soul singer Aretha Franklin’s sofa has been confirmed as her legal last will and testament. The note, dated 2014 and signed with a smiley face, has sparked a dispute between her sons over the division of her estate.

Aretha Franklin, known as the Queen of Soul, passed away in 2018, initially leaving her estate to be shared equally among her four sons as she was believed to have died intestate. However, nine months after her death, two homemade wills were discovered at her home in Detroit, Michigan.

One will, dated 2010, named her niece and third eldest son as co-executors and included conditions for her second and fourth sons to fulfill before benefiting from the estate. The other will, dated 2014 and signed with a smiley face, named a different son as co-executor and provided him with her gated mansion.

The estate, initially estimated at $80 million, has decreased in value to around $6 million due to unpaid taxes and asset depreciation. Despite the sons reaching an agreement regarding their eldest brother’s entitlement, a trial was held to determine the validity of the 2014 will.

The jury ultimately decided that the 2014 will found under the sofa cushions should be considered Aretha Franklin’s legal last will and testament. This case raises questions about the validity of handwritten wills and the importance of seeking professional assistance in estate planning to avoid family disputes.

The outcome of this landmark case in the USA may have wider repercussions, especially in jurisdictions like England and Wales where courts have different rules regarding the admissibility of handwritten wills and the determination of will challenges. It serves as a reminder of the importance of open discussions and proper estate planning to prevent future disputes among family members.

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