Three handwritten wills found in Aretha Franklin's home are filed nine months after her death despite lawyers believing she left NO instructions on dividing her $80million estate

  • Franklin was 76 when she died last August of pancreatic cancer
  • Lawyers and family members said at the time that she had no will, but three handwritten versions were discovered earlier this month
  • The latest one from March 2014 was in a notebook under cushions and appears to give the singer's assets to family members, Franklin's attorney says
  • Some writing is extremely hard to decipher, however, and the four pages have words scratched out and phrases in the margins 
  • Two other wills from 2010 were found in a locked cabinet after a key was located 
  • Franklin's lawyer for more than 40 years filed the wills on Monday

Three handwritten wills have been found in the suburban Detroit home of Aretha Franklin, months after her death, including one that was discovered under cushions in the living room, a lawyer said Monday.

The latest one is dated March 2014 and appears to give the famous singer's assets to family members. Some writing is extremely hard to decipher, however, and the four pages have words scratched out and phrases in the margins.

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Franklin was 76 when she died last August of pancreatic cancer leaving behind a $80million estate. 

Lawyers and family members said at the time that she had no will, but three handwritten versions were discovered earlier this month. Two from 2010 were found in a locked cabinet after a key was located.

The 2014 version was inside a spiral notebook under cushions, said an attorney for Franklin's estate, David Bennett.

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Aretha Franklin was 76 when she died last August of pancreatic cancer
Three handwritten wills have been found in the suburban Detroit home of Aretha Franklin, months after the death. The one found earlier this month is seen above

Bennett, who was Franklin's lawyer for more than 40 years, filed the wills on Monday. He told a judge that he's not sure if they're legal under Michigan law. A hearing is scheduled for June 12.

Bennett said the wills were shared with Franklin's four sons or their lawyers, but that a deal wasn't reached on whether any should be considered valid. A statement from the family said two sons object to the wills.

Sabrina Owens, an administrator at the University of Michigan, will continue to serve as personal representative of the estate.

'She remains neutral and wishes that all parties involved make wise choices on behalf of their mother, her rich legacy, the family and the Aretha Franklin estate,' the statement said.

Edward Franklin, the son of Aretha Franklin, sings at her funeral service at the Greater Grace Temple on August 31, 2018 in Detroit. Lawyers and family members said at the time that she had no will, but three handwritten versions were discovered earlier this month
Aretha Franklin's son, Clarence Franklin (right), hugs an attendee after his mother's funeral at the Greater Grace Temple in on August 31, 2018 in Detroit
Aretha Franklin's grandchildren Gracie (center) and Victorie, her son Eddie Franklin (right) and family members attend the Aretha Franklin benifit concert at Chene Park on August 30, 2018 in Detroit

In a separate court filing, son Kecalf Franklin said Aretha Franklin wanted him to serve as representative of the estate in the 2014 will. He is objecting to plans to sell a piece of land next to his mother's Oakland County home for $325,000.

Judge Jennifer Callaghan in April approved the hiring of experts to appraise Franklin's assets and personal belongings, including memorabilia, concert gowns and household goods. The Internal Revenue Service is auditing many years of Franklin's tax returns, according to the estate. It filed a claim in December for more than $6.3 million in unpaid income taxes.

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However her lawyer said at the time it had paid at least $3 million of the debt.

Franklin's star, meanwhile, hasn't faded since her death. She was awarded an honorary Pulitzer Prize in April, cited posthumously for her extraordinary career. A 1972 concert film, 'Amazing Grace,' was released with much praise from critics.

The estate is involved in 'many continuing projects ... including various television and movie proposals, as well as dealing with various creditor claims and resulting litigation,' Bennett said.

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