Two of Aretha’s sons, Kecalf Franklin and Edward Franklin, asked the jury to consider the 2014 will, which featured the artist’s signature with a small smiley face inside the letter “A,” like she used to do. The third son, Ted White II, wanted to validate the 2010 document.
The fourth son, Clarence Franklin, has special needs and was left out of the mess — Legal guardianship rests with his brothers.
This is how the division came about:
- Kecalf will inherit a house worth $1.1 million about R$5.3 million.
- Ted White inherited a property worth $300,000 about R$1.4 million. Since the property was sold before the division, he receives the value in cash.
- Edward also inherited property, the value of which was not disclosed.
- A fourth property worth US$1 million (R4.9 million) must be sold and the money divided among the four heirs.
- The assets of R$389 million must be divided between the four children.
- The legal battle over the singer’s inheritance will continue in court, which will now decide the profit in proportion to the musical material left behind by the artist.
Aretha Franklin died of pancreatic cancer in August 2018 at the age of 76. The singer was considered the “Queen of Soul” and one of the most important voices in world music.