'Sweet justice;' Major decision in Aretha Franklin will case
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- A jury deliberating over the validity of a will found in a couch cushion of Aretha Franklin's home needed only an hour to determine that it was in fact real.
Stay connected to Detroit with live newscasts from anywhere. Watch can't miss local programming across the nation. Your news. Your community.
Anytime, anywhere. Only with FOX LOCAL - download today.
Learn more at www.fox2detroi....
#FOXLocal #Detroit #MetroDetroit #Michigan
Mom left me as the Executer. My two brother stole moms keys from the hospital as soon as she died. They went to the house spent 3 days removing all assets and the executer binder from the estate that was in probate, destroying the will, but her attorney had the originals. They attacked me for 2 years wanting everything. There were 4 beneficiaries. The probate just ended.
They are pissed they didn't get it all. Greed!
GOOD!! They shouldn't have got one red cent!!
@@hiyellagal I told them to walk away or I would sanction them to pay the estate one hundred thousand dollars. Crickets!!!
Your Mom left u as the executer for a reason. It's a blessing that her wishes were fulfilled!❤❤️
@@kccain4011 That was my mission to fulfill her wishes, she told me "stay strong". Her attorney told me that she held me in high regard. I never knew that.
😢
Money corrupts all.. even families
If money can corrupt a family then that family was already corrupt (secretly)...amen??
This is Shameful, The Family should have gotten this together and kept this out of the News,
Amen 🙏 I totally agree with you! Very shameful
Amen.just shameful
Too much like right😢😢
no one seems to be angry or disrespectful so its not shameful. she was a celebrity, s her life was public..
Do you really think they called the news🙄 or is it more likely they found out when the case was filed?
She planned her funeral with precise details, but she didn’t have a professional will. Interesting.
Very. This woman had handled her own financial affairs for years. So much so as carrying thousands and thousands of dollars in a “purse”. Either s’body is hiding a “true” WILL or she did it intentionally. But the reporter also said that Clarence was and always had provisions for him and that her music royalties(which were the bulk of her estate) had already been decided would be split 4 ways. Interesting as well
It seems that if the will had not been found, they would of did right by each other and I think she knew that. no parent wants to think their children will fight like this..
YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT ARETHA WAS A CASH UPFRONT LADY, BUT GIVE HER CREDIT FOR HER WISHES. SHE WANTED HER WISHES FOR HER FAMILY AND YOU KNOW, SHE LOVE HER FAMILY. PEACE BE STILL.
Common
Funeral she was preparing for another show
You learn who You Are and who Your Family is when A Will is involved 😢😢😢
Sorry but you really learn sooner. When the person needs aide and attendance, watch them scatter. They return for stuff. Then they try to convince everyone you are a bad person.
Ikr sad and a shame
He was the only son that was with his mother until the end they should’ve spit it 4 ways
When a death takes place.
@@Stewbarry exactly don't even give time for good memories about the dead person always looking for money
Allow me to please add this: My father worked in the entertainment industry during the 70's. I followed in his footsteps in the 80's, met and married my husband who also worked in entertainment. We all knew Aretha DID NOT trust traditional banks or lawyers with her money. She ALWAYS scribbled and wrote down her wishes and famously hid them in the cushion of her sofa's and other areas of her home. When you saw Aretha you also saw her " pocket book" aka purse that was filled with checks or cash. She preferred CASH and not checks for her performance fee. These things are all well known to other industry people.
The 2014 written WILL was authentically the Queen of Soul. Everyone who knew her, knows that.
Thank you for sharing some inside information on the Queen.
@@tsonofjohnson489 You are very welcome.
Thank you for this and the clarity. I guess the youngest brother truly wanted his mother’s wishes respected. I’m just glad Clarence was and always will be taken care of🙏🏽
@@luvangel-s4q Absolutely. 100%!
She was foolish as hell for that.
My moms not even dead yet after she had a stroke, all the siblings that abandoned her are circling like buzzards and we that were close to her, spent time with her and she trust, gets all the scrutiny.
Family gets ugly when the foundations pass away and all that’s left is the infighting for property, personals and documents.
That’s a fact. My mother-in-law passed 7 years ago and my husband and brothers are still going thru it. He hasn’t talked to nor seen his baby brother and his family since the day of their mom’s funeral. It’s just sad. And to this day, no one can tell us why
You ain't Neva lied... Niggaz take an important occasion and "Grandstand" to reflect the empty unfulfilled life of a child of a Worldwide Iconic Figure...too much pressure!!!...
The lawyers are always the winners in these cases. Ask me how I know...
DITTO!
@@tsonofjohnson489I just went thru similar estate probate. The estate lawyer assigned by the state, NOT BY the beneficiaries, seems totally CORRUPT
Exactly, and the executors gets a yearly fee too.
How do you know???😂
@@dp7047😂
Five years? The courts and the attorneys are always the winners.
You're SO right, and most times the attorneys and courts end up with the bulk of everything!
Attorneys stop getting paid when "heirs" stop arguing over how to divide the estate.
When we leave this earth ! We take nothing with us . Its sad how families fight over material things . When my adopted parents died . My adopted sister , her husband and her children that were not his got everything because she had a Power Of Attorney . Im glade they took it all . I got Jesus and he provided me with everything that i needed . And im grateful to him Amen ! Ms. Lynn Dallas Ga .
This is really strange and sad. Why would a women as famous as her NOT have a legal will written up by an Attorney. As much as that women had. SMH Strange !!!!
Not strange at all. More common than you think. For some reason they think they will be here forever and never get around to it. Her manager should have made sure that was in place.
If you knew anything about her you would know she has never trusted others to handle her affairs or money. She would only be paid in cash and settle her own shows when touring.
She was old school. This is common
It happens all the time!
fake will
When you have your own personal affairs together, your parents or parent, whatever they leave you is just extra.
THIS!
@@ReginaDillard you should never rely on your parents in death to get you out of financial problems.
Praying this family can come 2gather. 🙏 There really is no win when families are separated.
😂family members smiling in the background…hilarious 😆”Teddy I love you”🤪
I would have still split all evenly!!!
OK, so he is greedy. His brother wanted everything to be divided evenly, and he was OK with that until he found that piece of paper would benefit him more. That type of stuff make you say something not right. All of this should’ve been done while she was alive to say who get what and what will happen.
I know!! They should be ashamed!!
He should be ashamed of hisself!
I still think that piece of paper is suspect. All of a sudden it's found STUFFED in a couch. He definitely should be ashamed of HIMSELF.
@@4CQueen I think he’s selfish. Why not split all the money between all the siblings?
Teddy White hates his mother. He's an addict with AIDS and blames Aretha. I believe he is the sone that her husband Glyn Turman molested and Aretha didn't seek justice.
I dont get it? Her sons did not sing a note nor earned the $$$$, yet they can not come together. sad smh. More to come for sure!
RIGHT!!!
Spoiler: This is all too common in the black community. Black folk don't deal with each other and as soon as somebody dies, everybody comes running for the spoils.
That’s the truth.
And some will start counting the money, oops! I intended to say, CHICKS before they hatch.
My grandmother is being buried this month in Country Club Hills and one of her 8 remaining children has found a way to get her hands on EVERYTHING, this is what happens when people don't take care of their final wishes in writing and this is also what happens when a Matriarch has favorites & intentionally creates confusion/division between siblings while still alive. Money, Real estate, Cars, expensive jewelry and other material possessions left behind after death unclaimed can magnify a person's greed and corruption but the bottom line is always this...... "You Can't Take It With You" no matter what you acquire in this lifetime enjoy it while you can, work as hard as you can because when the Fat lady sings it's a wrap!
I gotta agree w/ you. I’m from southern Va and I’ve seen plenty of folks not leave a will, say they have insurance and don’t, put favorites in places they shouldn’t be, all out of SPITE. You never know what goes thru an individual’s mind
As a black woman, I find this to be the main ignorance of our race. We dont accept death ( a will makes it real). We are our own worst enemy. The white man don't take properties from us . We are too ignorant to take care of busness.
I grow up in Country Club Hills, IL
Solomon said, "A person can work hard using their wisdom, knowledge, and skills. But you will die, and others will get the things you work for." They didn't have to work for it and most likely will squander it foolishly. It's vanity, chasing after the wind.
Amen. They are excited over causing division in the family in the name of 'last wishes' . Greed is very ugly.
I love her music it touches my soul ✌️
Sad when you Die people fighting over your money
Dealing with it right now
Dead left is a terrible thing, people fighting and killing over what's not theirs,what a shame.
The brother on camera is being greedy! Split it down the middle ridiculous so not worth fighting for 5 years!
Do you think he was really being greedy? Or did he KNOW that Aretha had changed her will in his favor. Possibly because of how the others were mistreating her. Normally, that's the reason for multiple wills.🤷
one word GREED money root of all evil folks.
The LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all [kinds of] evil. (1 Timothy 6:10, depending on your translation. MONEY is a great servant but a horrible master. Jesus said you can't serve God and money (Matthew 6:24). No one can serve two masters.
It's the "love of money" that is the root to all evil.
Amen
The Lawyers are going to take the family to the poor house.
You know they are!
You can't blame the siblings for this perplexed matter.
IT'S SAD THAT IT'S COME DOWN TO THIS THOUGH.
LET AREATHA REST IN PEACE. 🙏🏼
This may well explain why the mansion in Detroit has not been taken care of and its been on the market. City of Detroit please make that home a museum for the life and legacy of Aretha Franklin. She was more than a great singer, she did a lot for civil rights .
Greedy! ! Just split it!
Hand writen is law of the land now wow this opens new doors
old school Aretha. Never trusted a bank, lawyer or accountants 😂😂😂😂
Unbelievable that rich people do not have wills or executors of their wills when people with less have wills or legal documents after they died. Why not just split the will evenly? Why Aretha not have this taken care of? Astounding
It's possible that her family wasn't as close to her as people think .. SMH
Prince, didn't have a will neither, but his sister has the most controlling assets...
@@noelthomas7849 "close"? All four sons have different fathers, and there are large age differences. Today's spectacle is because Aretha refused to hire professional legal counsel and write a will. She then could have give a copy of her will to each of her children. Nearly of this 5 year (and counting) mess would not have happened.
Questions ??? Why did the Queen of Soul leave such a mess for her sons to fight over & be divided ( Sad ) 😢
People should work to take care of themselves regardless. If someone leaves you something after they pass be grateful and take good care of it.
Well said.
"for the love of money"
shame on those kids!
Pardon me but she was also a great (song) writer who made the mistake, like many, of not having her affairs in order.🙏🏽
that wasnt a mmistake, shes been rich for 1,000 years, and she had children, and she knew of wills. just neglagence
@@bonesnharmony3422 plain dumb in my opinion.
She had a special needs son. Who was already living in a home before she died but she made sure he was taken care of for the rest of his life
A special needs son who is apparently the son of Aretha's father (which is why he is mentally handicapped -- incest). Like all her other sons, this son "Clarence" is named after his father -- C.L. Franklin, Aretha's dad. Even worse, she was 12 when this happened. It's horrific but true.
First, your brother was willing to split everything up evenly and so did you, BUT when that second will was discovered things suddenly changed?!?! GIVE ME A BREAK!! You just wanted to see if you would get more!! PURE GREED!!
I thought this was already taken care of a while ago. I remember last year it was said on the news that some of the money went towards a 7 million dollar tax bill that Aretha had left behind. But the fact of the matter is when families fight over money and possessions like this they have to remember no matter what we believe in, when we all leave this earth we can't take any of it with us. So does it really matter...
Greed at its finest. I wanted everything split evenly. That is until I discovered I could be more even, CHA CHING!!! under the 2014 will, Kecalf Franklin and grandchildren would get his mother’s main home in Bloomfield Hills, which was valued at $1.1 million when she died, worth much more today. The 2010 will said Kecalf, 53, and Edward Franklin, 64, “must take business classes and get a certificate or a degree” to benefit from the estate. That provision is not in the 2014 version.
could be Mom saw growth in the two boys within that 4 year time frame
@@niecyj.1782 Could be. She had her reasons which is fine. I was just a little irritated at Kecalfès hypocritical remarks. When he was receiving less than the others he was voting all in for an even split. Then finds out he is the one could be getting more, suddenly the even split is off the table, and he is off to court.
EXACTLY!! Who the hell is he fooling?!?!?
@@DIDYOUSEETHAT172 EXACTLY!! You saw right through that statement like I did!!
That provision is what gets me and it was for the two that were ready to giddy-up to court. For her to have even wrote that speaks volumes. I question BOTH of the so called “WILLS”. But one thing we do know is that Clarence was and always has been taken care of. That says A LOT too
I will always miss the Queen of Soul
u will always miss queen of soul Aretha Franklin but u will never miss smelling my FART 😃
Suddenly Stuffed in a couch huh? 🤔 Yeah okay....😒🙄😔🤨
For everyone saying split it down the middle
No!! Absolutely not…
The caretaker or person who coordinates care should not in any way get the same amount as kids who are getting a benefit simply because they are heirs
I don’t believe alllllllllllll these entertainers are not leaving wills‼️‼️‼️‼️💯💥
It’s funny that these managers ( industry)end up with the masters and the money and the families of these entertainers end up with scraps after all their hard work‼️‼️💯📣
Wake up folks
Yep and what happened to that legal will that was drafted up in early 2018 and found by her attorney along with a voicemail from Aretha..... That will was found like two or three years AFTER she passed !
I don't know, but I guess if you're worth millions and millions, writing your will on the side of a Happy Meal box while eating the cheeseburgers is the way to do it. :/
Who hurt you? Completely unnecessary. Look within your heart and do better! Smh
THIS IS CRAZY
None of Ms. Aretha Franklin Sons should speak publicly about the case
What you don't get in the court room ruling and being there, should be NO Comment From Family After in Public.
Stirring The Pot Of Family Discord in Public,No Comment Should be All of the sons response, period.
That was a really sweet message to his brother. That’s how I feel about my brother
What message? I must have missed that part or were you being sarcastic 😂
He said to his brother, “Teddy, I love you. I’ve always loved you. And, I always will love you.”
Yep. I have two brothers I love them too
.
after he won, lol
@@bonesnharmony3422FACTS!!
Congratulations Cal Franklin..l still miss your Mom..The Queen of Soul..
It's all about money and lawyers getting paid 😅
Signed, sealed and delivered!!!!
I hope the brothers will find peace with eachother. Ms Franklin worked hard for her wealth, so anyone who benefits from it should count their blessings and don't argue over what they didn't earn but is rather a gift from a parent. My dad left my siblings and I inheritance, which is a house and land. But, I gave up my share in it vocally and emotionally to my siblings because they need it more than I do. I live in the west where even my home is rented but they live in the Caribbean where they are struggling from time to time and my mom is elderly. But where I live if I'm unemployed I can get state help and housing support, where they are they don't have access to services like I do because their government don't provide any such public services. But in this case, I hope the family will come to an agreement and find peace and closure and live and be happy. Mamma won't come back, she gone. So honour her gifts with grace.
I AGREE.
Thank you for sharing. Me Aretha Franklin continue to rest in peace 🕊️
Teddy I love you but I ain’t sharing this money!!! 😂😂😂. Family can be your biggest nightmare. Why not just split it evenly.
😂 Yep!!!
Lawyer's love 😍 it.
That was disrespectful. What does her writing got to do with her singing
They need to work together to keep her legacy going. Her catalog is extensive and they will be able to prosper indefinitely if they do right by her legacy.
Stuffed in a couch and cabinet. 😂😂😂
He was sneak dissing her with the she can sing but her handwriting
Sweet justice? Family is fighting over moms disaster
Niggas 😢
What Kecalf should’ve done was keep it cute and said no comment, thanked everyone and walked away.
Equally split… they’ve already done her wrong redressing her at that funeral. Let it be ppl always fighting over others assets.
What are you talking about; That was what she wanted...
@@choosey87 , No, Aretha`s niece said Aretha made no plans for a funeral like that , the family made the decision to do all that changing outfits three different times and wanted to give her a big send off .
@@christhomas5761 😵😵😵😵
@christhomas5761 @choosey87....i can believe her on that totally. she planned her funeral but didn't prepare an official will?? yeah right.
Did this reporter really think her son was gonna criticize his mother on camera?!
Always will be the Queen of Soul in my heart!!!! God prevails....
I remember working at LaSalle Bank in 2006-2008 and Aretha was one of my customers and I did her banking. Sadly, she was NOT good with money management at ALL. Sadly I’m not surprised that this happened.
This is so negligent & inconsiderate of anyone to not have their affairs in order.
Im still reminded of whitney houston and her daughter prais God he is getting the glory only the truth makes free🙏
Why did they get this racist person to narrate Arthea ‘s will? Just listen to his subliminal statement. Please get someone else. Big winners are the Lawyers. She may have been a great singer, but the handwriting ?? It was legible for the judge to read and make a decision.
Who knows how many other wills are out there, stuffed somewhere...
I love you but I'm greedy and want everything for myself
Wow! Just wow!
Now, you all please come together and complete your mother's wishes.
That’s right Kal, tell Charlie that was Aretha and her business. Charlie you all in family business. The jury decided it’s Aretha’s money and those are her sons and none of our business. You blowing this shit up why? It’s not your dam money. Aretha worked hard for her money and the last time I checked she was not on your dam payroll. So let’s not go there🎤
The Reporter Backhand comment about Ms. Franklin's Handwriting Was In Poor Taste As A Reporter interpretation "She Was Famous But; Her Handwriting Wasn't Educationally Acceptable Writing Skill.
The Reporter Showed his lack education on News Reporting Facts and interjection of personal view.
My dad died on my birthday I believe to this day that 2 of my brothers & their mother let my dad die. They waited until the last moment to call the ambulance to take him to the hospital. My dad had a bag connected to him collecting his urine. His girlfriend was told if she saw any blood in the bag bring him to the hospital immediately. Well when her & my 2 brothers called the ambulance to take my dad the bag was full of blood. The ER doctors asked why didn’t they bring him in before it got this bad. Her reply was he didn’t want to go. BS by that time my dads body was completely toxic he was placed on life support. I was told if I wanted to see him I needed to get there ASAP they would keep him on life support until I got there. There were no flights leaving from VA I had to fly from DC. When I arrived in DC i got a call from my sister saying daddy had died. I started screaming at her y’all was supposed to keep him on life support until I got there I said. She said sissy we did he died while on life support. After the funeral they went back to daddy’s house I went straight to the airport. I knew it was going to be a lot of BS & I wanted no part of it. My sister said they were arguing over everything in my dads safe one safe had already been broken into & the contents taken out. No one knew anything about it. My dad passed in 2006 the girlfriend had been staying in his house all these years. The house needed major repairs & taxes needed to be paid. None of the 22 siblings except 1 wanted to help with the cost of the repairs. Me & my sister it cost $30,000 just to get the water running again in the house. My sister & I asked again if anyone wanted to help with the repairs on the house. Everyone said no I contacted a lawyer everyone had to sign over their rights to the house which they all did knowing how much it would cost for the total renovation of the house. For the total renovation of the house not including the $30,000 we already had done for the water was $160,000. There was a company in the area that was buying up all the properties around the house building condos. Since none of us wanted to sell the house at the time they just kinda built across the street & to the left of the house. We had the front of the house done in the same material as the condos to the left of the house. That way it all looked the same it was a 3 level house with a finished basement we had the small backyard done & all. So for the $190,000 my sister & I put into the house we sold it to the developer for $$590,000 minus our renovations we made $400.000. on the sale of the house. One of my brothers is a lawyer & we’re now in court over the selling of the house. He’s saying he signed the papers not to be involved in any repairs of the house. Nothing about the selling of the house one would think being a lawyer the last paragraph of the document specifically said all decisions forth coming of said property & it list the properties address is at the sole discretion of said person’s as listed above (i.e.) it list our names again, such as renting & or sale of said property. Now everyone wants a share of the money but no one wanted to help pay for anything not even lawyer fees. When a family member dies that’s when the wolves come out. Long story sorry.
Your story/testimony may have been long... but as I read it... I felt like you NEEDED to share it in a place of strangers who wouldn't judge you. 💕 Thank you for sharing your heartbreaking experience. I pray it helps someone because the emotional preparation for the "wolves" as well as the legal advice (that last paragraph in the contract) is truly helpful. If your other siblings aren't open to reconciliation, I pray for, at least, perpetual peace for you. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
@@GiftFromGod4U Thank you so much Blessings Always 🙏🏽💛
Property taxes and regular taxes will run you out you have to have a income the place will go to hell quick . Greed and upkeep
on a home that size is expensive security alarms and women trying to get involved. Best to get your ducks in a row quick .
💯🤞🏽
No one Won you are all family love is a beautiful blessings feeling ❤may God's will Fix everything
Children should make their own money and not fight over their parents property
What’s so unusual about family fighting over money
PRAYER WARRIOR, PRAY ✝️🙏✝️🙏✝️🙏✝️🙏✝️🙏✝️🙏✝️🙏
Shame, not leaving your estate in order.
Great interview this was very interesting Aretha Franklin did it her way period ☝🏾 praying for all her sons too honor her wishes without fighting with each other
The brother souls spilt it with his brothers Evenly
The news anchor really wanted to see discord between the two-brothers. Well thank God! This decent gentleman didn’t give him any. And gave his brother his best wishes and not the dishonor that he probably deserved.❤
Aretha should have done better in regards to the will. She should have gotten a lawyer and done things correctly.
5 years.... just sad
Rich people problem
Sad to see money come between family. Please squash this beef and celebrate your mom as the GOAT soul singer.
Charlie have some decorum about yourself. That’s someone deceased Mother your speaking of. Why are you speaking on someone handwriting smh. She was an older woman & sick as well. Congratulations to the family because one thing that should be honored is her last words & that’s the way it should be. I talk about this all the time to family & friends have your business in order because we all have to leave this world 🌎 once you’re gone & nothing is in writing ✍️ that’s when everyone show you who they really are.
After all this the lawyers get 99.9% and the family gets .1%😢😢😢
All should take lessons and do it like The Queen of Rock n Roll, Tina Turner. She knew her sons, what they had done and what they had done to her for years and years. Regardless, of the outcome, she made sure her ducks were in a row
..So clearly he really didnt want her estate to be split up equally.
In addition to the main issue of Aretha not writing a professional will is the fact that none of her sons is financially successful. They've all been essentially living off their mother for their entire lives. Since they relied on her when she was alive, it's to be expected they would fight for her assets after she passed.
Selfishness always happens when things aren't done right
Relatives come out of the wood work, then things disappear
After all court and lawyer situation none of them will have anything to fight over
RIP ARETHA FRANKLIN!! QUEEN OF SOUL!!! I MISS YOU SO!!!
When matriarchs die in a family it’s pure hell trying to get siblings and family to agree or not be selfish. It’s so nasty and happened to my family. Money isn’t everything .
When family members pass away the other family members start to be greedy
Should be shared amongst all 4.