Trial over Aretha Franklin’s estate reveals validity of handwritten will

The late music icon Aretha Franklin, known as the Queen of Soul, left behind a legacy that continues to be celebrated by fans around the world. However, her estate has been the subject of a legal battle between her sons over which of two handwritten wills should govern her assets.

The trial over Franklin’s estate began on July 10, with her sons disputing whether a 2010 or 2014 handwritten will should be considered valid. The jury ultimately ruled in favor of the 2014 will, which was found in a notebook under a couch cushion in Franklin’s Detroit home.

Handwritten wills, also known as holographic wills, are legally permissible in certain states like Michigan, where Franklin resided. These wills outline the deceased’s wishes for their property and assets upon death, including who will inherit what.

In Franklin’s case, the two handwritten wills revealed differences in how her assets should be distributed among her sons. The 2014 will specified that one son and her grandchildren would receive her main home in Bloomfield Hills, while the 2010 will divided the home evenly between two of her sons.

The legal dispute highlights the importance of having a clear and legally valid will in place to ensure that one’s wishes are carried out after death. Without a will, state laws dictate how an estate’s property is divided, which can lead to disagreements among family members.

Estate planning experts emphasize the importance of having a will or trust to avoid potential conflicts and ensure that assets are distributed according to the deceased’s wishes. Using a trust, in particular, can help maintain privacy and avoid the public scrutiny that comes with probate proceedings.

As the legal battle over Aretha Franklin’s estate comes to a close, it serves as a reminder of the importance of proper estate planning to protect one’s assets and provide clarity for loved ones after death.