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Aretha Franklin's Sons Still at Odds over Who Should Manage Her 80M Estate
As the first anniversary of her death draws close, Aretha Franklin’s sons are still battling over who should manage the singer’s multimillion-dollar estate.
Initially, when it was believed that the late Queen of Soul did not leave a will, her niece, Sabrina Owens was named as the executor for the estate. Now that it’s been discovered that there are, in fact, more than one will, things have gotten more complicated.
A fight is emerging over whether a son of Aretha Franklin should be put in charge of the late singer's estate, which might be worth millions. https://t.co/tXRSHVEXH2
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 18, 2019
According to Daily Mail, one of Franklin’s sons, Theodore “Ted” White Jr. filed court documents last week asking to be named co-executor or personal representative of his mother’s estate along with Owens.
Still To Come: He also alleged that Owens transferred a car to her name and received an unspecified amount of money
Meanwhile, one of the three handwritten wills discovered in Franklin’s home two months ago instructs that her last son Kecalf Cunningham be appointed as representative.
Last summer it was reported that Aretha Franklin died without leaving a will or trust for her $80 million estate. An attorney revealed on Monday that three handwritten wills were discovered in the soul legend’s home earlier this month. https://t.co/f9xeoDZTSd pic.twitter.com/0ftOcl90ce
— EBONY MAGAZINE (@EBONYMag) May 21, 2019
In the same document, the names of Owens and White are crossed out, but their names appeared in one of the other wills, dated 2010. White, however, does not believe Cunningham crossed out the names.
The late soul legend’s family will have to wait till August 6 for a judge to consider a request to have a handwriting expert examine the documents.
It’s taken decades to bring the Aretha Franklin documentary “Amazing Grace” to the big screen, and film critics are raving about it.
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) April 5, 2019
Sabrina Owens, Franklin’s niece, sits down with @HarrySmith to discuss the new film tonight on @NBCNightlyNews. pic.twitter.com/pJGHnnBRdH
In the meantime, TMZ reported that Cunningham filed court documents asking the judge to grant a temporary restraining order against Owens.
The order, according to Cunningham, should restrict Franklin’s niece from making any decisions on behalf of the estate pending the time a judge decides who should be the executor.
Aretha Franklin & son Kecalf Cunningham at her 72nd Birthday Celebration in New York City on March 22, 2014. |Photo: Getty Images
Cunningham claims in the filing that Owens has sold property and personal items belonging to his late mother while also spending money to advertise the items for sale. He also alleged that Owens transferred a car to her name and received an unspecified amount of money on behalf of the estate.
.@ArethaFranklin's son, Kecalf Cunningham, allegedly accused Sabrina of selling off property, personal items and spending money of his late mother for her personal use.🤔 #diasporanews #legitdiasporanews #arethafranklinhttps://t.co/TO4TZcHjRd
— Legit.ng (@legitngnews) July 24, 2019
Franklin passed away on August 16, 2018, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type. She was 76.
Since her death, the musical icon’s life and legacy have been celebrated with several tributes, a concert documentary “Amazing Grace,” and most recently, a posthumous Pulitzer Prize in honor of “her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades.”
