On Tuesday, a US jury concluded that a handwritten will discovered in Aretha Franklin’s sofa accurately reflects the final wishes of the late Queen of Soul.
This development marked a significant development in a lengthy family dispute that emerged following Franklin’s passing from pancreatic cancer in 2018 at the age of 76, without a formally typed will.
During a court session in Detroit on Monday, Ted White II, Franklin’s 60-year-old son and a guitarist in her performances, argued that a document from 2010, discovered in a locked desk drawer at her residence, should be legally acknowledged as her will.
Mr White told a six-person jury: “With all the time I spent working with her administratively, every other document that she ever signed was something that was done conventionally and legally.”
The document had been notarised and repeatedly signed by Franklin, and Mr White said she always used a lawyer for anything official.
In the ongoing court proceedings, Kecalf Franklin, the youngest son of Aretha Franklin, presented a 2014 document and argued that it should be recognized as her will in accordance with Michigan law.
The document had been discovered in a spiral notebook under a cushion on a sofa after her passing.
During the probate court hearing, Kecalf Franklin explained that it did not seem unusual for his mother’s documents to be found on the sofa. He stated that she would often read her mail, sign documents, and even sleep on the couch. According to him, the area surrounding the sofa would frequently be cluttered with numerous papers.
Craig Smith, a lawyer representing Edward, another of Aretha Franklin’s sons, also expressed support for the 2014 document as her will.
Mr Smith told the court: “Edward believes this 2014 document represents her most current wishes and thus should be honoured.”
The 2014 document, discovered in the spiral notebook on the sofa, featured a dated and signed entry by “A. Franklin,” accompanied by a characteristic smiley face inside the initial.
This signature style was consistent with how the singer typically signed her name. The jury was presented with a similar signature made by Aretha Franklin in concrete at a museum in Detroit as evidence.
During the court proceedings, four large posters displaying pages from the 2014 document were showcased to the jury. Additionally, the spiral notebook contained doodles alongside the written entries.
Both the 2010 and 2014 documents indicated that Franklin’s four sons would share in the income from her music and copyrights.
However, the 2014 version had crossed out the name of Ted White II as the executor of the estate and appointed another son, whose identity was not specified in the information provided.
According to the document, this son and his three children were designated to receive Franklin’s primary residence, which was valued at $1.1 million at the time of her passing.
Franklin’s estate was valued at $18 million shortly after her death.
A lawyer for Mr White said the 2010 document had been signed on all 11 pages, and the 2014 document only once.
Both documents were found at the same time by a niece, Sabrina Owens, who initially managed the estate.
Ms Owens did not appear in court but her testimony from a formal interview was read aloud.
She explained how she searched the singer’s house for records.
Ms Owens said: “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 notebooks there.”
Probate court judge Jennifer Callaghan said the only task for the six jurors was to decide whether the 2014 document should be accepted as a valid will.
The singer’s three grandchildren were also in court. They are the children of Mr Franklin.
The jury found that the handwritten will found on the sofa was valid on Tuesday.