Aretha Franklin died in 2018 at age 76.
The issue for a jury: Does a 2014 document count as a will under Michigan law? If so, it could trump a 2010 handwritten will that was found in a locked cabinet at the same time. The older version, however, was notarized and repeatedly signed by Franklin.“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” and with assistance from a lawyer, White, 60, told the jury.
There are differences between the documents, though they both appear to indicate that Franklin’s four sons would share income from music and copyrights.That version crossed out White’s name as executor of the estate and named another son, Kecalf Franklin, in his place. Kecalf Franklin and grandchildren would get his mother’s main home in Bloomfield Hills, which was valued at $1.1 million when she died but is worth much more today.
Asked by his attorney where Aretha Franklin often read mail, made important phone calls, signed documents and even slept, Kecalf Franklin repeatedly said, “on the couch.”
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