PONTIAC, Mich. — In a critical turn of events, a handwritten document discovered in the couch of singer Aretha Franklin after her death in 2018 has been deemed a valid Michigan will by a jury. This ruling has intensified a dispute between her sons, Kecalf Franklin and Edward Franklin.
Claiming that documents dated 2014 should supersede a 2010 will that was found in a locked cabinet at the Queen of Soul’s suburban Detroit home, the lawyers representing Kecalf and Edward Franklin have emerged victorious. The verdict was reached after a brief trial that commenced on Monday, with the jury deliberating for less than an hour. Upon hearing the decision, Aretha Franklin’s grandchildren embraced Kecalf and Edward, expressing their support.
“I’m very, very happy. I just wanted my mother’s wishes to be adhered to,” said Kecalf Franklin. “We just want to exhale right now. It’s been a long five years for my family, my children.”
At the time of her passing five years ago at the age of 76, Aretha Franklin had not left behind a formal, typewritten will. However, in 2019, both the handwritten papers and the 2010 will with scribbles and hard-to-decipher passages were discovered when a niece searched the home for records.
During closing arguments, lawyers representing two of Franklin’s sons emphasized that finding the handwritten papers in a notebook within the couch holds no legal significance. “It’s inconsequential. You can take your will and leave it on the kitchen counter. It’s still your will,” stated Charles McKelvie before the jury began deliberating.
Franklin Family Entangled in Will Dispute
Byline: Unknown
Kecalf and Edward Franklin, two of Aretha Franklin’s sons, have joined forces against their brother Ted White II in a legal battle over their mother’s will. The dispute revolves around two versions of the will, one from 2010 and another from 2014. Franklin’s estate managers have been diligently managing her affairs, settling tax debts, and earning income from her music royalties and intellectual property. However, the will dispute remains unresolved.
The 2010 Will vs. the 2014 Will
While both versions of the will indicate that Franklin’s four sons would share the income from her music and copyrights, there are some notable differences. Under the 2014 will, Kecalf Franklin and Franklin’s grandchildren would inherit her main home in Bloomfield Hills, originally valued at $1.1 million but now worth significantly more.
The 2010 will also included a provision stating that Kecalf, 53, and Edward, 64, would need to complete business classes and obtain a certificate or degree in order to benefit from the estate. However, this provision was absent in the 2014 version.
Ted White II, who played guitar with Aretha Franklin, contested the validity of the 2014 will. He claimed that his mother typically executed important documents through conventional and legal means with the assistance of an attorney.
Remembering Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin, a beloved global star for several decades, was renowned for her timeless hits such as “Think,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” and “Respect.” Despite her unparalleled legacy in the music industry, her family now finds themselves entangled in a legal battle over her estate.
