Aretha Franklin's Handwritten Will Found in Couch Ruled Valid After Sons' Dispute

A handwritten will found in Aretha Franklin's couch after her death in 2018 was ruled valid by a Michigan jury, overriding a 2010 will found in a locked cabinet.
Franklin's sons disagreed over which document should control the estate, with Kecalf and Edward favoring the 2014 couch will and Ted White II favoring the 2010 cabinet will.
Both wills stated Franklin's four sons would share income from music and copyrights, but the 2014 will granted Franklin's home to Kecalf and grandchildren.
The 2010 will required Kecalf and Edward to take business classes to benefit from the estate, a provision not included in the 2014 version.
After years of dispute, the jury deliberated for less than an hour before deeming the 2014 couch will to be Franklin's valid final wishes.