3 handwritten wills found in Aretha Franklin's home, lawyer says
One was discovered under cushions in the living room, a lawyer says.
3 handwritten wills found in Aretha Franklin's home, lawyer says One was discovered under cushions in the living room, a lawyer says. Check out this story on Freep.com: https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/aretha-franklin/2019/05/20/3-handwritten-wills-found-aretha-franklins-home/3747694002/
Ed White, Associated Press Published 6:11 p.m. ET May 20, 2019 | Updated 8:43 p.m. ET May 20, 2019
The emotional journey of a week in Detroit following the passing of the Queen of Soul. Brian Kaufman, Detroit Free Press
Three handwritten wills have been found in the suburban Detroit home of Aretha Franklin, months after the death of the Queen of Soul, including one that was discovered under cushions in the living room, a lawyer said Monday.
Three handwritten wills have been found in the suburban Detroit home of Aretha Franklin, months after the death of the "Queen of Soul." Aretha Franklin is seen her performing during the closing of the 25th annual Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival on Monday, September 06, 2004 at Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit. (Photo: Romain Blanquart, Detroit Free Press)
The latest one is dated March 2014 and appears to give the famous singer's assets to family members. Some writing is hard to decipher, however, and the four pages have words scratched out and phrases in the margins.
Franklin was 76 when she died last August of pancreatic cancer. Lawyers and family members said at the time that she had no will, but three handwritten versions were discovered earlier this month. Two from 2010 were found in a locked cabinet after a key was found.
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The 2014 version was inside a spiral notebook under cushions, said an attorney for Franklin's estate, David Bennett.
Bennett filed the wills on Monday. He told a judge that he's not sure whether they're legal under Michigan law. A hearing is scheduled for June 12.
Bennett said the wills were shared with Franklin's four sons or their lawyers, but that a deal wasn't reached on whether any should be considered valid. A statement from the estate said two sons object to the wills.
Sabrina Owens, an administrator at the University of Michigan and Franklin's niece, will continue to serve as personal representative of the estate.
This Monday, May 20, 2019, photo shows one of three handwritten wills that a lawyer said were found in the home of Aretha Franklin in Pontiac, Mich., months after her death. Three handwritten wills have been found in the suburban Detroit home of Franklin, months after the death of the "Queen of Soul," including one that was discovered under cushions in the living room, a lawyer said Monday. (AP Photo/Ed White) (Photo: Ed White, AP)
"She remains neutral and wishes that all parties involved make wise choices on behalf of their mother, her rich legacy, the family and the Aretha Franklin estate," the statement said.
In a separate court filing, son Kecalf Franklin said Aretha Franklin wanted him to serve as representative of the estate in the 2014 will. He is objecting to plans to sell a piece of land next to his mother's Oakland County home for $325,000.
Franklin's estate, which is in Oakland County Probate Court, has long been embroiled in controversy. Days after her death, her sons filed a document listing themselves as interested parties in her estate, estimated to be worth tens of millions of dollars.
In December, the Internal Revenue Service filed a claim in probate court alleging the estate owed millions in back taxes and penalties. An attorney for the estate told the Associated Press that at least $3 million in back taxes had been paid back to the IRS since Franklin's death.
According to TMZ, which cited court records in a December report, the late singer owed more than $6.3 million in back taxes from 2012 to 2018 and $1.5 million in penalties.
In January, Bloomfield Township police confirmed they were investigating a theft from Franklin's home. The investigation started before the singer's death.
Franklin's star, meanwhile, hasn't faded since her death. She was awarded an honorary Pulitzer Prize in April, cited posthumously for her extraordinary career. A 1972 concert film, "Amazing Grace," was released with much praise from critics.
The estate is involved in "many continuing projects … including various television and movie proposals, as well as dealing with various creditor claims and resulting litigation," Bennett said.
The Free Press previously reported that Franklin owned three homes in Bloomfield Township at the time of her death. She also owned a Detroit house that backed up to the Detroit Golf Club. When she died, she was living in an apartment at Riverfront Towers on the waterfront.
Staff writer Ann Zaniewski contributed to this report.
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