The United States Court has ruled that Aretha Franklin’s will, found among the cushions of a sofa in her home, will be responsible for the fate of her inheritance, valued at $89 million.
The manuscript signed by the singer was deemed valid by a jury from the city of Detroit, despite the document having some deletions and passages deemed illegible. It is dated 2014 and, with the court’s decision, annuls the previous will, from 2010, also found in the artist’s home.
With this, Aretha’s assets will once again be divided among her four children. Only one of them, Ted White II (the third son), was against this decision. Two others, Kecalf Franklin and Edward Franklin, came forward to ask the jury to consider the 2014 will.
With special needs, the fourth child, Clarence Franklin, was left out of the chaos. The will states that the brothers will be responsible for their legal guardianship.
The will clearly defines which properties will go to which brothers – and Kecalf inherited the most expensive residence, valued at $1.1 million (about R$5 million) -, as well as the division of financial assets.
Despite the decision, the dispute over the singer’s inheritance will continue in court, as the fate of profits from sales and continued performances of the artist’s songs still remains to be assessed.
Aretha Franklin died in August 2018, at age 76, from pancreatic cancer. Considered the “Queen of Soul”, she was one of the most important voices in world music.
Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
