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After questions swirled about the future of Aretha Franklin’s estate, a lawyer says three handwritten wills were recently found in Franklin’s Detroit home, including one recovered from under a seat cushion in her living room.
According to the Associated Press, Franklin’s estate attorney, David Bennett, says two of the wills were found after a key was to a locked cabinet was located. Both wills were dated 2010 while a the third document acquired from the Queen of Soul’s living room was dated 2014.
Though pieces of the wills are hard to understand, Bennett filed the documents in a Michigan court yesterday (May 20), telling a judge he didn’t know if they were legal under state law or not.
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The documents have been shared with the late singer’s four sons, but Sabrina Owens, the personal representative of Franklin’s estate, says two sons are objecting the wills including Kecalf Franklin, who claims his mother wanted him to serve as the representative of her estate per the 2014 will. He is currently contesting plans to sell off property near Franklin’s Oakland County home.
The estate released a statement noting “[Franklin] remains neutral and wishes that all parties involved make wise choices on behalf of their mother, her rich legacy, the family and the Aretha Franklin estate.”
A court date to rule on the validity of the three wills is scheduled for June 12.