Aretha Franklin's sons clash over her wishes in trial over dual wills

  • 📰 CTVNews
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 32 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 16%
  • Publisher: 99%

Law Law Headlines News

Law Law Latest News,Law Law Headlines

Two sons of the late singer Aretha Franklin gave opposing opinions Monday about the Queen of Soul's final wishes, testifying in an unusual trial that will determine whether a 2014 handwritten document found in couch cushions will lead her estate.

Franklin died in 2018 at age 76 without a formal, typewritten will, and five years later her legacy still is tied up in a suburban Detroit court after a niece found different sets of handwritten papers at her home.The issue for a jury: Does a 2014 document count as a will under Michigan law? If so, it could trump a 2010 handwritten will that was found in a locked cabinet at the same time. The older version, however, was notarized and repeatedly signed by Franklin.

There are differences between the documents, though they both appear to indicate that Franklin's four sons would share income from music and copyrights.That version crossed out White's name as executor of the estate and named another son, Kecalf Franklin, in his place. Kecalf Franklin and grandchildren would get his mother's main home in Bloomfield Hills, which was valued at $1.1 million when she died but is worth much more today.

Asked by his attorney where Aretha Franklin often read mail, made important phone calls, signed documents and even slept, Kecalf Franklin repeatedly said, “on the couch.”

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 1. in LAW

Law Law Latest News, Law Law Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Jury seated in trial over singer Aretha Franklin's handwritten willsA Michigan judge narrowed the issues Monday in a dispute over Aretha Franklin's estate, saying the only task for jurors is to decide whether a 2014 document handwritten by the Queen of Soul and found in couch cushions can be accepted as a valid will.
Source: CTVCalgary - 🏆 26. / 68 Read more »