Judge cites handwritten will and awards real estate to Aretha Franklin’s sons

28 November 2023, 18:24

Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin Will. Picture: PA

The singer had four homes when she died of pancreatic cancer in 2018.

A US judge overseeing the estate of singer Aretha Franklin has awarded real estate to the late star’s sons, citing a handwritten will from 2014 that was found between couch cushions.

The decision came four months after a Detroit-area jury said the document was a valid will under Michigan law, despite scribbles and many hard-to-read passages.

Franklin had signed it and put a smiley face in the letter “A.”

The papers will override a handwritten will from 2010 that was found at Franklin’s suburban Detroit home around the same time in 2019, the judge said.

Judge Jennifer Callaghan listens during a jury trial over Aretha Franklin’s wills at Oakland County Probate Court in Pontiac, Michigan
Judge Jennifer Callaghan listens during a jury trial over Aretha Franklin’s wills at Oakland County Probate Court in Pontiac, Michigan (Sarahbeth Maney/Detroit Free Press via AP)

One of her sons, Kecalf Franklin, will get that property, which was valued at 1.1 million dollars (£866,000) in 2018, but is now worth more.

A lawyer described it as the “crown jewel” before trial last July.

Another son, Ted White II, who had favoured the 2010 will, was given a house in Detroit, though it was sold by the estate for 300,000 dollars (£236,000) before the duelling wills had emerged.

“Teddy is requesting the sale proceeds,” Charles McKelvie, a lawyer for Kecalf Franklin, said on Tuesday.

Judge Jennifer Callaghan awarded a third son, Edward Franklin, another property under the 2014 will.

Aretha Franklin had four homes when she died of pancreatic cancer in 2018.

The discovery of the two handwritten wills months after her death led to a dispute between the sons over what their mother wanted to do with her real estate and other assets.

One of the properties, worth more than one million dollars (£788,000), is likely to be sold and the proceeds shared by four sons.

The judge said the 2014 will did not clearly state who should get it.

Lawyer Charles McKelvie delivers closing arguments at a jury trial over Aretha Franklin’s wills at Oakland County Probate Court in Pontiac, Michigan
Lawyer Charles McKelvie delivers closing arguments at a jury trial over Aretha Franklin’s wills at Oakland County Probate Court in Pontiac, Michigan (Sarahbeth Maney/Detroit Free Press via AP)

“This was a significant step forward. We’ve narrowed the remaining issues,” Mr McKelvie said of the estate saga.

There is still a dispute over how to handle Aretha Franklin’s music assets, though the will appears to indicate that the sons would share any income.

A status conference with the judge is set for January.

Franklin was a global star for decades, known especially for hits in the late 1960s such as Think, I Say A Little Prayer and Respect.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned 'any appearance by armed forces under some other flag' in Ukraine would be 'completely unacceptable', in a dig at a peace plan floated by Keir Starmer.

Keir Starmer’s Ukraine peacekeeping plan ‘completely unacceptable’, Russia tells US in Saudi Arabia talks

Lydia Mugambe is accused of taking 'advantage of her status'

UN judge ‘trafficked woman to UK to be her slave'

The plane, which was carrying 80 people, slid down onto the icy runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport before bursting into flames

Horrifying video shows moment Delta plane crashes on tarmac and bursts into flames at Toronto airport

Healey's comments came following Russia-US Peake talks in Saudi Arabia.

UK facing 'new era of threat' from Russia, Defence Secretary says as he unveils ‘biggest military shake up in 50 years’

Passengers escape Flipped over Delta plane after it crashed while landing in Toronto

'We were hanging upside down like bats': Survivors reveal fear and chaos inside flipped over Delta plane

Craig and Lindsay Foreman

British couple on round-the-world motorbike adventure charged with espionage by Iranian authorities

Corinna Schumacher, right, has broken her silence on the case involving a plot to reveal Formula One star Michael Schumacher's health secrets.

Michael Schumacher's wife breaks silence after three men guilty of blackmail plot to reveal F1 legend's health secrets

Pope Francis

Pope Francis cancels weekend engagements as hospital stay extended

Alhaurin El Grande Malaga Province Spain Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación

Heartbreak as Brit pensioner, 90, 'starves to death in her Spanish home' as son, 63, 'found dead in property'

US and Russia begin talks about Ukraine in Saudi Arabia

Vladimir Putin 'ready to meet Zelenskyy', Moscow says as Russia-US peace talks underway

Shocking footage shows passenger's 'lucky escape' after Delta jet crashes and 'flips' at Toronto airport leaving 18 injured

Shocking footage shows passenger's 'lucky escape' after Delta jet crashes and 'flips' at Toronto airport with 18 injured

The woman was attacked by a shark

Family of woman whose hands were bitten off by shark reveal 'nightmare' after husband fought off '7ft' predator

The aircraft can be seen upside down, with its wheels in the air, and the area thick with snow

Passenger jet 'flips over' during landing in Toronto leaving 15 injured - with three critical

Pope Francis will need to remain in hospital with a respiratory tract infection

Pope to remain in hospital with infection as doctors tackle 'complex clinical picture'

Jennifer Rauchet, Pete Hegest, US defence secretary, and Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Minister of Defence of Poland, during a welcoming ceremony in Warsaw, Poland, on February 14, 2025.

Ukraine is the 'frontline' of Britain, Starmer says as US begins peace talks with Russia

Exclusive
Trump is ‘shaking up our region’, says Israel's president.

Donald Trump is 'shaking up our region', says Israel's president as he 'reveals US leader's strategy' in Middle East