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Read Aretha Franklin's Secret Handwritten Wills After Lock Box Discovery

Home / News / Read Aretha Franklin's Secret Handwritten Wills After Lock Box Discovery

By TheBlast Staff on May 20, 2019 at 9:19 PM PDT

Aretha Franklin left behind multiple wills that were just discovered inside a locked box hidden in her home, and now the estate is unclear what exactly was left behind by the late singer.

According to court documents obtained by The Blast, the head of Franklin’s estate, Sabrina Owens, informed the judge she found the singer’s will.

She explains that while at Franklin’s home in Michigan, she discovered a key to a cabinet that had been previously been locked and unable to be opened.

Inside the cabinet, Owens found two purported holographic wills signed by Franklin. The documents were dated June 2010 and October 2010. She then found a spiral notebook in the living room couch with another purported will, dating back to 2014.

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Aretha Franklin 2010 June Will

TheBlast.com

According to the wills, which are difficult to decipher, Franklin gave one of her homes to her son, Kecalf. He was also given an allowance for his monthly bills, along with Franklin's other son, Edward.

She also included a caveat that Kecalf and Edward needed to attend "business administration" classes, or receive a degree, to be able to receive their share of the inheritance. However, Franklin also offered to pay for any education costs they needed.

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Aretha Franklin October 2010 Will
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TheBlast.com

Franklin, who passed away last year, listed her royalties owed by Warner Music Group at over $1.6 million, and wants the royalties evenly divided among her 4 children.

The music legend gave permission to sell off her cars, including her limousine and Thunderbird, and split up her music memorabilia among her children.

The Queen of Soul threw a little bit of shade into her will, calling out one of her attorneys, David Bennett, as being "grossly inefficient."

Franklin, who kept a very detailed account of her money, said she also owes a booker for a European tour between $6,000 - $7,000, but stresses that her estate should "scrutinize" the bill.

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The documents filed in the probate explain Owens held a meeting with Franklin's heirs, but they have not been able to agree on the validity of the handwritten wills.

Aretha Franklin March 2014 Will

TheBlast.com

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