One year after “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin’s death, the later singer’s estate remains mired in uncertainty.
Franklin reportedly left three handwritten wills, one of which was discovered in a sofa months after her death. A handwriting expert is now examining those wills to verify their authenticity.
Recent court filings also reveal that Franklin did not have an accounting system in place. Three uncashed checks totaling nearly $1 million were found in one of Franklin’s purses. Franklin was notorious for having a purse full of cash on stage with her whenever she performed. It is also rumored that she demanded cash payments prior to every performance.
Franklin’s youngest son, Kecalf Franklin, has petitioned the court to make Sabrina Owens, Franklin’s niece and estate representative, answer financial questions and to remove her as representative.
Kecalf claims Owens failed to provide Franklin’s heirs with an accounting or inventory of Franklin’s property and assets. Among other things, Kecalf seeks a complete list of Franklin’s jewelry, masters, Grammys, gold records, and other awards.
Kecalf also claims Owens is not communicating with Franklin’s heirs about business deals she is negotiating. According to Kecalf, he knew nothing about a planned television show, Genius, and an upcoming movie about Franklin’s life before they were formally announced.
Kecalf’s brother, Edward Franklin, has filed pleadings supporting his brother’s request to remove the current personal representative of the estate and put himself in charge.
Owens denies Kecalf’s claim that she has left Franklin’s heirs in the dark. Instead, Owens says she is handling all responsibilities of the estate in a timely and proper manner.
While Owens admits she has not completed an estate inventory, she blamed the heirs for this delay. Owens is adamant that Kecalf and his siblings have been regularly updated regarding the estate’s business affairs.
Owens also revealed that the estate is preparing a civil lawsuit to recover some property she claims was stolen from the estate. The police declined to press criminal charges relating to those items.
Owens asked the court to deny Kecalf’s claims and allow her to continue as representative of Franklin’s estate.
A judge has yet to make a decision.
This family drama appears to be far from over.
If you find yourself embroiled in a dispute over a will or trust, reach out to the experienced legal team at Gaslowitz Frankel. We’ve been successful litigating trust disputes for more than three decades. Contact us for a consultation.
