Aretha Franklin can finally rest in peace! The late Queen of Soul left the world in 2018, but her spirit may live on in the earth, watching her children turn their backs on their inheritance.
During his lifetime, the legendary music giant welcomed four sons: Clarence Franklin, Edward Franklin, Ted White Jr., and Kecalf Franklin. These men find themselves in disaster when their mother dies without official proof of her last wishes.
The problem of dividing the estate of the late entertainer became more and more serious in 2019 when two handwritten documents were found in the house of the gospel singer. These notes caused a rift between the brothers leading to a dispute about which writing should be accepted as his will.
Jury Resolves Four-Year Conflict Over Aretha Franklin’s Will In Favor of 2014 Document
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The drama between the two sons of the creator of “I Say a Little Prayer” — Ted White Jr. and Kecalf Franklin — recently concluded with the help of a Michigan jury. According to The New York Times, the siblings became legal adversaries over two handwritten documents found in their late mother’s Detroit home.
The entertainer’s children initially agreed to divide the reported $18 million estate using Michigan law because they believed there was no will. According to the mandate, Franklin’s assets will be distributed equally among his four sons.
To ensure justice, the brothers unanimously chose their cousin, Sabrina Owens, as the farm’s representative. However, everything changed when two handwritten notes were discovered in May 2019.
The first document, dated 2010, was found in a locked cabinet, while the other, a 2014 letter, was located in a spiral notebook under a sofa cushion. White argued that the earlier document should be considered his mother’s official will, while Kecalf and Edward supported using the second note.
The two documents distributed Franklin’s wealth differently, with the first detailing weekly and monthly allowances for each of the deceased’s children. Additionally, the 2010 note states that Kecalf and Edward “must attend business classes and obtain a certificate or degree” to receive their fees from the estate.
In a 2014 document, the children of the Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, not including Clarence, were allocated an equal share of the 76-year-old’s music royalties. However, Kecalf and his children will acquire more of the “Chain of Fools” singer’s personal property.
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The list includes the 18-time Grammy winner’s exotic cars and his residence in Bloomfield Hills. The Michigan estate was reportedly worth $1.1 million at the time of the singer’s death, while the vehicles consisted of a Mercedes-Benz, two Cadillacs and a Thunderbird convertible.
After a four-year battle, the brothers’ final legal battle involved a two-day trial in probate court in Pontiac. A six-person jury took less than an hour to declare the 2014 document as Franklin’s will.
Grateful to emerge victorious in the case, Kecalf told sources outside the courtroom: “We just want to exhale now. It’s been a long five years for my family and my children.” White may have lost the battle; however, his wish was realized thanks to the chief judge, Jennifer S. Callaghan.
Even if the jury found the 2014 will valid, the arbitrator noted that White could still argue against allowing some aspects of the 2010 document to be included in the estate plan.
Aretha Franklin’s Youngest Son Accuses Estate Manager of Mismanagement
Before the NAACP Image Award winner’s last will was finalized, his youngest son dragged his cousin to court over the entertainer’s $18 million estate. In September 2019, Kecalf filed documents requesting Owens’ removal as representative and replacing him with himself.
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He accused him of mismanaging the estate and failing to perform his duties. According to the 53-year-old man’s filing, his cousin was allegedly unable to provide the heirs with any inventory of their late mother’s assets. Also, Owens didn’t tell them about business deals like a biopic about Franklin’s life.
In his defense, representatives of the estate filed a list of witnesses with several acquaintances of the “Amazing Grace” singer. Those individuals included the head of Swanson Funeral Home, several Chase bank employees, Franklin’s attorney, and record executive Clive Davis.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee was dragged into a family dispute over his decades-long relationship with the deceased. Davis executive produced some of the 76-year-old’s biggest records, making him the perfect candidate to testify about the late singer’s business and music royalties.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
