Aretha Franklin’s Family Freaking Out Over What They Found in Her Couch

Four years before Aretha Franklin passed away, she allegedly wrote a will that was only discovered recently, apparently between some couch cushions at her home in suburban Detroit. Now, the youngest of her four sons wants to execute the new will, possibly sparking a dispute between the brothers over the music legend’s estate.

The lawyers in charge of Aretha Franklin‘s estate filed court documents on Monday arguing Kecalf Franklin does not have the  “ability, skill (and) knowledge” necessary to be the executor of his mother’s assets.

A tale of three wills.

When Aretha Franklin died after a battle with pancreatic cancer, it was initially believed that the singer had incredibly not left a will explaining how she wanted her estate distributed among her loved ones and pet causes, but in the months following her death, three wills were found among her belongings.

The will at the heart of the court documents indicates Ms. Franklin wanted Kecalf to be in charge of her estate and the question is now whether or not that most recent handwritten document will get any R-E-S-P-E-C-T in court. At stake are Franklin’s music, image, and other assets that could eventually be worth millions of dollars in the coming years.

Previously, Kecalf, who is a Christan rapper, and his brothers agreed that the estate would be handled by Franklin relative and university administrator Sabrina Owens. Kecalf’s attorneys argue he should at least be named as co-executor while the will in question is scrutinized by handwriting experts and ruled on by a judge.

The judge who presided over Monday’s hearing, which was specifically about a sale of land, declined to hear arguments regarding the handwritten will and Kecalf’s claim that he ought to be the executor.

The estate’s attorney, David Bennett, spoke out against a change of hands and in favor of Sabrina Owens handling of all the dealings related to Aretha Franklin‘s assets.

“She is the only one I believe who’s capable of continuing that,” Bennett told Judge Jennifer Callahan at the court hearing.

The following weeks and possibly months could set off a Conway Twitty-esque legal battle over the singer’s estate. It’s unfortunate when a will goes into dispute, as with Twitty’s, because the attorneys are the only ones who benefit. Hopefully, Kecalf realizes this if things carry on too long.