Aretha Franklin Did Not Leave A Will Behind For Her $80 Million Estate

The iconic “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin passed away last week at 76 years old. Evidently, she did not leave a will behind.

ARETHA FRANKLIN DID NOT LEAVE A WILL BEHIND

As Franklin did not leave a will, her four sons have filed a document on Tuesday listing themselves as parties interested in her estate, according to the Detroit Free Press. Kecalf Franklin, one of her sons, and her estate attorney David Bennett confirmed on the paperwork that there is not a will. Moreover, Franklin’s niece Sabrina Owens asked the court to be appointed as the estate’s personal representative.

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Don Wilson, a Los Angeles attorney who represented Franklin for 28 years, frequently asked her to pen a will, noting how it would make the legal proceedings easier and keep information pertaining to her assets private. Wilson also mentioned how it would be impossible to place a monetary value on Franklin’s musical catalogue, though she did retain ownership of her original compositions.

Judge Jennifer Callaghan will oversee the case. According to Michigan’s laws, the assets of an unmarried man or woman who passes away without a will are equally divided among any children. However, it is possible distant relatives may emerge, contesting that they’re owed a portion of Franklin’s assets.

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Notably, Ike Turner’s estate is still being challenged 11 years after his passing. Wilson, who also works on the Turner case, hopes things remain civil in Franklin’s. “I just hope [Franklin’s estate] doesn’t end up getting so hotly contested,” Wilson expressed. “Any time they don’t leave a trust or will, there always ends up being a fight.”