A jury rules a handwritten will found under Aretha Franklin’s couch cushion is valid

A handwritten will by late soul singer Aretha Franklin, found under her couch cushions, has been declared valid by a Michigan jury.

Court contention: Franklin’s sons, Kecalf and Edward Franklin, wanted the 2014 note to override a separate will from 2010.
* The opposing party was their brother, Ted White II, whose lawyer argued that the 2010 will, found under lock and key in Aretha Franklin’s home, should stand.

Will differences: The 2014 will entitles Kecalf and Franklin’s grandchildren to her Bloomfield Hills home, unlike the 2010 will which required the sons to earn a business degree or certificate before inheriting her estate.
* However, both versions of the will permit her four sons to benefit from Franklin’s music royalties and copyrights.
* Franklin’s fourth son, Clarence Franklin, was not present during the trial as he resides in an assisted living facility.

Given facts: The late singer’s niece discovered three handwritten wills around Franklin’s Detroit home in 2019.
* Despite parts of the documents being difficult to read, the jury concluded the 2014 version was valid due to Franklin’s signature at the bottom, with a smiley face written inside the letter “A”.

Background: Aretha Franklin, known as the “Queen of Soul” for hits such as “Respect” and “Day Dreaming,” passed away in 2018 at age 76 due to pancreatic cancer.

View original article on NPR

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