Aretha Franklin reportedly died without a Will, leaving her multimillion pound estate to the rules of intestacy

After a near six decades in the spotlight, Aretha Franklin has died at the age of 76, reportedly without leaving a Will. The Queen of Soul passed away at her home in Detroit on Thursday the 16^th of August, after an on-going battle with pancreatic cancer.

Aretha Franklin was the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and during her 76 years she earned 18 Grammy Awards, released many popular hits such as “Respect” and “I Say a Little Prayer”, and sold more than 75 million records worldwide, making her an unforgettable icon for the music industry.

Aretha’s estate is estimated to be worth around $80 million (£62 million) and because no Will has yet been found, her estate may be deemed intestate. The singer was twice divorced and did not remarry, meaning that her multimillion pound estate would be split evenly between her four surviving children; Clarence Franklin, 63, Edward Franklin, 61, Ted White Jr, 54, and Kecalf Cunningham, 48, in accordance to Michigan state law.

Aretha’s funeral for her close family and friends will be held on the 31^st of August at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, with a public viewing of her casket taking place a few days prior to the private service at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, for fans to pay their respects. She will then be laid to rest at Detroit’s Woodland Cemetery alongside her father, 3 siblings and nephew.

The likely absence of a Will has shocked many in the light of Aretha’s wealth and circumstances. The iconic singer’s decision to not create a Will before she died could prompt a court battle over her assets by creditors or extended family members seeking a portion of her estate. 

Regardless of wealth, age or health, it is crucial that people understand the importance of planning ahead. The rules of intestacy will divide your estate in a pre-determined way and, regardless of your relations, it could result in your assets being distributed to family members that you would not have chosen to inherit from your estate. Keeping a Will is the only way to ensure you retain control of your decisions and your estate is distributed in a way that reflects your wishes.

Kings Court Trust are one of the UK’s leading estate administration providers and our sole purpose is to help families move on. With our unrivalled knowledge of estate administration, we can advise on any situation. If you have any questions regarding estate administration, call our Client Services Team on 0300 303 9000.