The finances of an intensely private
Aretha Franklin soon will become very public in Oakland County Probate
Court because she left no will or trust.
Her
four sons filed a document Tuesday afternoon listing themselves as
interested parties in her estate. One document filed with the court and
signed by her son Kecalf Franklin, and her estate attorney, David
Bennett, check a box acknowledging the absence of a will.
"The
decedent died intestate and after exercising reasonable diligence, I am
unaware of any unrevoked testamentary instrument relating to property
located in this state as defined" under the law, the form reads.
Franklin's
niece Sabrina Owens asked the court to appoint her as personal
representative of the estate. The case is assigned to Judge Jennifer
Callaghan.
"I was after her for a number of years to do a trust,"
said Los Angeles attorney Don Wilson, who represented Franklin in
entertainment matters for the past 28 years. "It would have
expedited things and kept them out of probate, and kept things private."
As
Franklin's attorney in copyright matters, song publishing and record
deals, Wilson said he would have been consulted about her holdings for
any estate planning purposes.
Wilson said that at this point it's impossible to place a dollar figure
on the value of her song catalog. He said she did maintain ownership of
her original compositions, which include well-known hits such as
"Think" and "Rock Steady."
Under Michigan law, the assets of an unmarried person who dies without a will are divided equally among any children.
Franklin's decision to not create a will before she
died could prompt a court battle over her assets by creditors or
extended family members seeking a portion of her estate. One case Wilson
has been involved with is that of musician Ike Turner, whose estate is
still being litigated 11 years after his death.
"I
just hope (Franklin's estate) doesn't end up getting so hotly
contested," Wilson said. "Any time they don't leave a trust or will,
there always ends up being a fight."
Wilson said many people, famous and not, fail to prepare a will.
"Nobody likes to give careful thought to their own demise," he said.
Franklin died Thursday at home in Detroit.
Her funeral is Aug. 31 at Greater Grace Temple, following public
viewings at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
(Aug. 28-29) and New Bethel Baptist Church (Aug. 30).
Aretha Franklin left no will or trust, court records show
2 comments:
I am sorry to hear this. Now the tug of war begins.
I hope the kids don't fight about the estate.
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