An August 6 hearing sees a Michigan judge placing administration of the late Queen of Soul's estate under court supervision as three of her four sons are squabbling over the management of assets.
- Aug 8, 2019
AceShowbiz - A Michigan judge has agreed to allow a handwriting expert to examine three wills discovered in the late Aretha Franklin's home following her death last year (18).
The Queen of Soul passed away last August, and now three of the "Respect" singer's four sons are squabbling over the management of assets she left behind, which are estimated to be worth $80 million (£64 million).
During a hearing on Tuesday (August 06), Oakland County Probate Judge Jennifer Callaghan placed administration of Franklin's estate under court supervision, and agreed to allow handwriting expert Erich Speckin to examine the documents.
All three wills were found in the late singer's suburban Detroit property after her death - the most recent dated 2014, and two dating back to 2010.
While the star's heirs agreed to put the estate in the hands of Franklin's niece, Sabrina Owens, her son Kecalf Franklin is challenging the decision, as the 2014 will appears to show the singer wanted him to serve as the representative of her estate.
Owens and Theodore White II - another of the "A Natural Woman" hitmaker's sons - were mentioned in the 2010 papers, but their names were omitted in the most recent document.
According to the New York Post's gossip column Page Six, lawyers for Franklin's estate have said "there is no basis" to believe Kecalf Franklin has the skills to administer the estate.
The case continues.
