Jury rules handwritten note found in Aretha Franklin's sofa is a valid Will
The soul singer passed away in 2018
Last updated 12th Jul 2023
Five years after soul legend Aretha Franklin passed away, at the age of 76, a Michigan jury has ruled that a handwritten note found under a sofa cushion is a valid Will.
The ruling comes after two documents were found in her house by Sabrina Owens - Aretha's niece and the estate's executor. Nine months after the singer's death Sabrina found two separate handwritten documents dated 2010 and 2014.
During the trial, Sabrina revealed how she came across the documents saying: "She would use the kitchen and living room - that was about it.
"So when I got to the sofa, I lifted up that far right cushion and there was three notebooks there."
One version, found in a locked desk drawer, was dated June 2010 and suggested that there should be a fairly equal distribution of her assets, however two of her sons, Kecalf and Edward "must take business classes and get a certificate or a degree" in order to benefit from her estate.
However, the other document, which was found under a sofa cushion in Aretha's house was dated March 2014, and detailed an equal split between three children of her music royalties and bank funds, whereas the youngest son Kecalf and his grandchildren should receive Aretha's primary residence, which is a gated mansion last valued at $1.2m (£928,000).
Since the unearthing of these documents, Aretha's sons Kecalf and Edward have argued the new document revokes the older one, however their half-brother Ted, who was Aretha's touring guitarist, has argued it didn't.
Kecalf argued his mother would often conduct business on her sofa, and "doesn't strike me as odd" that it was found there, whereas Ted told the trial that Aretha would have written a Will "conventionally and legally" rather than by "freehand".
Nevertheless, the court ruled that the handwritten document was a valid Will, with Kecalf Franklin speaking outside the court saying: "I'm very, very happy. I just wanted my mother's wishes to be adhered to. We just want to exhale right now. It's been a long five years for my family, my children."
He went on to say of his brother Ted: "I love my brother with all my heart."
Aretha Franklin's fortune was thought to be worth around $80 million at the time of her death in 2018, however, due to various unpaid taxes and more recent valuations, it's thought to be a lot less.
Aretha was known for many hits such as 'Respect', 'I Say A Little Prayer', and 'Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves'.
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