Title: Legal Battle Over Aretha Franklin’s Will Begins in Michigan Court
The court trial regarding the disputed will of renowned American singer Aretha Franklin, who passed away in 2018, commenced on Monday in a Michigan court specializing in inheritance cases.
Present at the court were three out of the four children of the “queen of soul,” who have been engaged in a lengthy legal battle over the legitimacy of two handwritten wills discovered in Franklin’s house months after her demise. The court proceedings began with the selection of the jury.
One of the wills, hidden beneath sofa cushions, was dated 2014, while the other, found in a closet, had been drafted by Franklin in 2010.
The dispute, under the scrutiny of Judge Jennifer Callaghan and the jury from Oakland County, Michigan, revolves around determining which document should be recognized as the true reflection of the late singer’s wishes.
According to the lawyer representing one of the artist’s sons, the estate, consisting of opulent clothing, jewelry, real estate, and song royalties, is estimated to be worth approximately $18 million (€16.4 million at the current exchange rate). However, the final sum will be reduced as an agreement needs to be reached with the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to settle a tax debt of over $8 million, to be financed by a percentage of Franklin’s music royalties.
The four children of the iconic singer hold opposing interpretations of their mother’s posthumous intentions. Kecalf Franklin and Edward Franklin argue that the 2014 will is the valid one, whereas their brother, Ted White II, believes the 2010 document is the genuine testament.
The eldest son, Clarence Franklin, who suffers from mental illness, will not be participating in the trial. However, both wills specify that the singer’s estate must provide financial support for him.
According to the 2010 will, White is designated as the administrator of Franklin’s estate, and it mandates that Kecalf and Edward acquire a business certificate or diploma before accessing their inheritance. On the contrary, the 2014 will removes the requirement for business training and appoints Kecalf as the executor of the singer’s fortune, inheriting a mansion on the outskirts of Detroit.
Moreover, the more recent will instructs family members to either auction Franklin’s performance costumes at Sotheby’s in New York or donate them to the Smithsonian museums.
Aretha Franklin succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 76 on August 16, 2018, at her residence in Detroit, Michigan. Her legacy has been immortalized through various media depictions, including the film “Respect,” featuring actress Jennifer Hudson, and the television series “Genius.”
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