Michigan Jury Rules 2014 Document Found in Aretha Franklin’s Couch is Valid Will

The late Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, left behind a multi-million dollar estate when she passed away in August 2018. At the time of her death, it was believed that she did not have a will in place to distribute her assets, which included real estate, cash, gold records, furs, and music copyrights.

However, nearly five years later, a document dated March 2014 was found in Franklin’s couch, containing her handwritten final wishes. This discovery sparked a legal battle among her children, with two of her sons claiming that their half-brother, Ted White, was trying to disinherit them.

After a two-day trial in Michigan, a jury ruled that the 2014 document found in the couch was a valid will, bringing an end to the family’s legal squabble. The will stipulates that Franklin’s three sons will evenly split her music royalties and bank funds, while her youngest son, Kecalf, and his grandchildren will inherit her primary residence.

The dispute centered around the differences between the 2014 will and a 2010 document found in a locked desk drawer. The older document required two of Franklin’s sons to take business classes in order to benefit from the estate, while the newer will did not have this stipulation.

Despite the tensions within the family, Kecalf Franklin expressed relief after the verdict, stating that he just wanted his mother’s wishes to be followed. He also expressed love for his brother Ted, indicating a desire to move forward and exhale after a long legal battle.

The resolution of Aretha Franklin’s estate highlights the importance of having a will in place to ensure that one’s assets are distributed according to their wishes. In this case, the discovery of a handwritten document in an unexpected location ultimately determined the fate of the legendary singer’s estate.