Aretha Franklin’s Handwritten Will Ruled Valid By Jury, Ending Sons Battle Over Estate

Aretha Franklin’s Handwritten Will Ruled Valid By Jury, Ending Sons Battle Over Estate

Looks like Aretha Franklin’s sons have settled on which version of their mother’s will is valid following the singer’s 2018 death.

According to reports, today (July 11) a jury ruled that a 2014 handwritten will found under Aretha Franklin’s couch is a valid legal document. The ruling, which was held in a Michigan court, comes years after the Queen of Soul’s four sons have been battling over who will govern the administration of her estate.

Despite years of health issues and attempts to leave a formal will behind prior to Aretha Franklin’s death, two handwritten versions were found by her niece when she searched the singing mogul’s Detroit home in 2019. One document was made in 2010 while the other was from 2014, which caused a dispute between Franklin’s sons due to the drafts being significantly different from one another.

Under the 2014 will, her sons Kecalf Franklin and Edward Franklin are appointed as executors of her $6 million estate. It appears their brother, “Teddy” AKA Ted White II, who served as executor in the 2010 draft of her will, is crossed out. In addition to that, the 2010 will appeared to include that Kecalf Franklin and Edward Franklin “must take business classes and get a certificate or a degree” to benefit from the estate, but the 2014 document doesn’t have that requirement.

As previously reported, both wills containing scribbles, scratch-outs, and difficult-to-read parts were found in Franklin’s home after she passed from pancreatic cancer at the age of 76. While Ted White II believed that documents from 2010 should predominately govern his mother’s estate, his brothers Kecalf Franklin and Edward Franklin were in favor of the 2014 contract. Franklin said in both documents that Clarence, the oldest son who is under guardianship, must get regular assistance.

Charles McKelvie, a lawyer for Kecalf Franklin said,

“Two inconsistent wills cannot both be admitted to probate. In such cases the most recent will revokes the previous will.”

What are your thoughts on the entire situation? Let us know in the comments below!

[Sources: 1, 2]

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