Jury Confirms Validity of Aretha Franklin's Hand-Written Will Found in Couch

A remarkable discovery from a couch cushion led to a jury decision that impacts the estate of the late Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. Following Franklin's death in 2018 from pancreatic cancer, it was initially thought that she had left no will. However, two hand-written wills were later found at her residence. The most recent of these wills was found tucked away under a sofa cushion and featured a distinctive squiggle, interpreted as a 'smiley in an a'—a substitution for her signature.

Uncovering the Will

Aretha Franklin's death left many pondering over the fate of her assets, estimated to be worth around $6 million, including properties, cash, precious memorabilia and her music copyrights. The discovery of the hand-written documents by Franklin's niece brought a new twist to the proceedings. The will dated from June 2010 was located in a desk drawer, but a 2014 version containing Franklin's personal doodles was found in her living room, leading to a family dispute over its legibility and intentions.

Jury's Decision and Estate Distribution

After much deliberation, a jury ruled that the 2014 will was valid, paving the way for a different distribution of Franklin's estate. With court approval, Franklin's considerable assets, including the equally split music copyrights, are now formally recognized by this latest will, likely providing some closure to the matter. All of Franklin's four sons had deemed the 2010 document legitimate, but were divided on the authenticity and implications of the 2014 hand-written will.

probate, will, Franklin