Aretha Franklin's Sons Given Inheritances From Will Found In Couch

DETROIT — Aretha Franklin’s real estate properties were divided this week among her sons in accordance with a handwritten will found between couch cushions, according to reports.

The judge’s decision Monday came after a Detroit-area jury found the 2014 document was valid despite scribbles, hard-to-read passages and a smiley face, overriding another handwritten will from 2010, the Associated Press reported.

The wills were found in 2019 by Franklin’s niece, with the 2010 version in a locked desk drawer and the 2014 version in a spiral notebook full of doodles under sofa cushions in the living room, according to the BBC.

One of Franklin’s sons, Kecalf Franklin, will get Aretha Franklin’s suburban Detroit home, which was valued at $1.1 million in 2018, but is now worth more, the Associated Press reported. A lawyer described it as the "crown jewel" before trial last July.

Another son, Ted White II, who had favored the 2010 will, was given a house in Detroit, though it was sold by the estate for $300,000 before the dueling wills had emerged.

"Teddy is requesting the sale proceeds," Charles McKelvie, an attorney for Kecalf Franklin, said Tuesday.

Judge Jennifer Callaghan awarded a third son, Edward Franklin, another property under the 2014 will.

Aretha Franklin had four homes when she died of pancreatic cancer in 2018.

One of the properties, worth more than $1 million, will likely be sold, with the proceeds shared by her four sons, according to the Associated Press. The judge said the 2014 will didn't clearly state who should get it.

Both wills stipulated the four sons would share income from their mother’s music and copyrights, although the 2014 version named Kecalf Franklin as executor while the 2010 version named White to the role, Fox Business reported. The 2010 document also stated that Kecalf and Edward Franklin would have had to take business classes and receive a certification or degree to benefit from the estate, according to the outlet.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.