Aretha Franklin - Sons get real estate by will

The judge overseeing Aretha Franklin's estate has assigned real estate to the late star's sons, citing a 2014 handwritten will found between couch cushions. The ruling came Monday, four months after a court in Detroit ruled the document valid under Michigan law despite illegible markings and difficult-to-read passages. Franklin signed it and drew a smiling smiley face on the letter "A.".

These documents cancel a handwritten 2010 will that was discovered in Franklin's home in suburban Detroit at the same time in 2019, a judge said.

One of her sons, Kekalf Franklin, will receive that property, worth 1.1 million''dollars in 2018, but now she's worth more. An attorney described it as a "gem" before the trial last July.

Another son, Ted White II, who was a proponent of the 2010 will, received the Detroit home, though it was sold by a probate trust for $300,000 before the two conflicting wills.

"Teddy is asking to receive the proceeds of the sale," said Kekalf Franklin's second attorney Charles McKelvey.

Judge Jennifer Callahan also appointed a third son, Edward Franklin, another estate in a 2014 will.

Aretha Franklin had four homes when she died of pancreatic cancer in 2018.

One of the properties, worth more than a million dollars, will likely be sold and the proceeds divided among the four sons. The judge noted that the 2014 will does not clearly state who it should go to.

"This was a significant step forward. We narrowed down the remaining issues," McKelvey said of the probate saga.

The question of what to do with Aretha Franklin's musical assets remains unresolved, although the will seems to indicate that the sons are to share all proceeds. A court hearing on the matter is scheduled for January.

Aretha Franklin has been a global star for decades,''particularly known for her late 1960s hits such as "Think," "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Respect".