A decide overseeing the property of Aretha Franklin awarded actual property to the late star’s sons, citing a handwritten will from 2014 that was discovered between sofa cushions.
The choice Monday got here 4 months after a Detroit-area jury stated the doc was a valid will under Michigan law, regardless of scribbles and lots of hard-to-read passages. Franklin had signed it and put a smiley face within the letter “A.”
The papers will override a handwritten will from 2010 that was discovered at Franklin’s suburban Detroit house across the identical time in 2019, the decide stated.
Certainly one of her sons, Kecalf Franklin, will get that property, which was valued at $1.1 million in 2018, however is now price extra. A lawyer described it because the “crown jewel” earlier than trial final July.
One other son, Ted White II, who had favored the 2010 will, was given a home in Detroit, although it was bought by the property for $300,000 earlier than the dueling wills had emerged.
“Teddy is requesting the sale proceeds,” Charles McKelvie, an legal professional for Kecalf Franklin, stated Tuesday.
Choose Jennifer Callaghan awarded a 3rd son, Edward Franklin, one other property beneath the 2014 will.
Aretha Franklin had 4 houses when she died of pancreatic cancer in 2018. The discovery of the 2 handwritten wills months after her demise led to a dispute between the sons over what their mom needed to do together with her actual property and different belongings.
One of many properties, price greater than $1 million, will possible be bought and the proceeds shared by 4 sons. The decide stated the 2014 will didn’t clearly state who ought to get it.
“This was a significant step forward. We’ve narrowed the remaining issues,” McKelvie stated of the property saga.
There’s nonetheless a dispute over methods to deal with Aretha Franklin’s music belongings, although the need seems to point that the sons would share any earnings. A standing convention with the decide is about for January.
Franklin was a world star for many years, identified particularly for hits within the late Nineteen Sixties like “Think,” “I Say a Little Prayer” and “Respect.”
