Aretha Franklin’s Last Will Was Found in a Couch – Her Sons Still Fight over Estate Almost 5 Years after Her Death

Aretha Franklin’s sons have been fighting over her will, now half a decade after her demise. The “Queen of Soul,” who died in 2018, didn’t leave a formal document to guide her sons about her property and other assets.

The legal dispute over Aretha Franklin’s properties has been a source of tension between her sons. While Aretha didn’t leave a formal document to guide her sons about her music, property, and other assets, a handwritten will dated 2014 was found several months after her death.

According to court documents, Aretha’s cousin, Sabrina Owens, who served as the estate’s representative, discovered a notebook with a handwritten will, dated March 2014, in Aretha’s home. She found the notebook under the living room cushions.

The four-page document listed assets for family members, including the singer’s sons and grandchildren, but it was challenging to read. That is just one of Aretha Franklin’s wills; the “Ain’t No Way” singer had another handwritten will dated 2010 discovered in a cabinet, which has sparked an ongoing fight among her sons.

In the last four years, Aretha Franklin’s sons have fought over her will in a Michigan probate court over which document should be considered first.

According to legal documents, two of Aretha Franklin’s sons, Kecalf Franklin and Edward Franklin, want the document dated March 2014 to be considered first, while the singer’s third child, Ted White II, wants the will dated 2010 to take precedence.

The singer’s eldest son Clarence Franklin will not be involved in the legal battle. He has a mental illness and lives under legal guardianship, and both wills will have provisions for his financial support.

During an interview, Don Wilson, a Los Angeles entertainment attorney who represented the Grammy Award winner for 30 years, stated that he legally advised the late singer to prepare a formal will, but she was reluctant to do so. He said:

“We insisted that she have a will and a trust as part of her estate planning. But she was a very private person, and I think she didn’t want to share that information with another individual, such as an attorney.”

Don believes Aretha didn’t want to go into someone’s office and formally plan her will; instead, she decided to write them herself.

Aretha’s estate trial is ongoing, and her two sons testified on Monday, July 10, before an Oakland County Jury. The jury will decide whether Aretha’s will, dated 2014, matches the requirement of being considered a will under Michigan law. Aretha Franklin’s sons already agreed that the 2010 document met the criteria.

Aretha is survived by four sons whom she welcomed between 1955 and 1970. The singer gave birth to her first child, Clarence, aged 12, and despite giving birth at a young age, her father and extended family were supportive.

She had a son named Teddy with her first husband, and her former manager fathered her other child, Kecalf. Her children, Clarence, Edward, Teddy, and Kecalf, inherited their mother’s artistic abilities.

The singer died in August 2018 at her home in Detroit aged 76. She died surrounded by her family and friends. Aretha’s oncologist confirmed that the award-winning singer succumbed to pancreatic cancer.

Aretha Franklin is widely regarded as one of the most exceptional vocalists in history. Her unforgettable songs have left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry and will be cherished for years.