Aretha Franklin’s Sons Awarded Ownership Of Her Properties Following Confusion Regarding Two Handwritten Wills

Aretha Franklin‘s sons were granted ownership of real estate following the validation of a will that was found tucked between couch cushions.

At the time of her passing, Franklin possessed four properties, which will now be distributed among her four sons several months after a jury decided that a 2014 Will takes precedence over a 2010 handwritten will that was stored in a cabinet.

The judge presiding over Aretha’s estate confirmed that she is adhering to the provisions outlined in her 2014 will and has allocated real estate to the late music icon’s sons, according to USA Today. This will was discovered when Sabrina Owens, the singer’s niece, searched for documents in Aretha’s suburban Detroit home following her 2018 passing. There was no formal will at the time.

Now, Kecalf Franklin, Aretha’s son, is set to inherit the property where both wills were discovered. Its estimated value in 2018 was $1.1 million, but has risen since then. Another property will be passed on to her son Edward Franklin, while Ted White II was given a property that Aretha’s estate sold for $300,000.

A fourth property is expected to be sold with the proceeds distributed among Aretha’s four sons, including Clarence Franklin, who resides in an assisted living center. A judge reached this decision after the wills did not specify which son should receive this particular property.

The discovery of the two wills triggered a disagreement among her sons regarding their mother’s intentions for her real estate and other assets. Both wills stipulated that her sons would collectively receive income from her music and copyrights. However, in the 2014 version, Kecalf was designated as the executor, while in the 2010 version, Ted was named as the executor.