What They Found in Aretha Franklin's Couch Changed Everything

When a global music icon passes, we might expect her final wishes to be as carefully orchestrated as her legendary performances. But when Aretha Franklin — the Queen of Soul herself — died in 2018, her estate hit a note no one expected: there was no will.

Or so they thought.

Months later, in a twist worthy of a courtroom drama, not one but multiple wills surfaced — tucked in nooks, scribbled in notebooks, and even hidden between couch cushions. What unfolded wasn't just a legal dispute. It was a family story about uncertainty, legacy, and what happens when final instructions are left to interpretation.

A Will in the Couch?

After Franklin died of pancreatic cancer in August 2018, her four sons believed the courts would divide her estimated $80 million estate under the assumption she hadn't left a will.

But in 2019, while sorting through her Detroit home, her niece and appointed executor, Sabrina Owens, reportedly made a stunning discovery: two handwritten wills — one dated 2010 and another dated 2014. The latter had been folded into a spiral notebook and wedged under couch cushions.

Under Michigan law, holographic wills — handwritten documents that are signed and clearly intended as wills — are valid, even if scrawled in the margins or surrounded by cross-outs and smiley faces. Franklin's 2014 note checked enough boxes to qualify.

After a legal back-and-forth that pitted her sons against each other, a jury ruled in 2023 that the 2014 document was the valid will — a decision that significantly changed the fate of her estate.

Lessons From the Queen of Soul's Estate Chaos

The Franklin estate case is a cautionary tale — not just about wealth, but about clarity. If someone as experienced with contracts and legal language as Aretha Franklin could leave behind an ambiguous estate, what hope do the rest of us have?

Turns out, quite a bit — if we take action.

• Write a formal will. A handwritten will may be legal in your state, but it can also leave room for interpretation and conflict. Franklin's 2014 will was only accepted after years of litigation, a trial, and a jury verdict.
• Make your wishes unmistakable. As the AARP emphasizes, clarity is one of the greatest gifts you can leave your loved ones. Ambiguity, like conflicting executors and unclear property designations, can fracture families.
• Update your documents. The most recent will typically prevails in probate court. If your circumstances or intentions change, ensure your documents reflect that — and communicate your updates.
• Store important documents safely. Under a couch cushion might be fine in a pinch, but a fireproof safe, attorney's office, or secure digital vault is a better bet.
• Consider a trust. Wills go through probate and become public. A trust can distribute assets more privately and efficiently — a path many celebrities prefer.
• Seek professional help. Aretha had access to top legal minds but still wrote her final wishes by hand. Whether due to privacy, procrastination, or pride, the result was a family battle that could have been avoided with professional guidance.

What You Can Do Now

If you haven't yet created a will — or if it's been sitting in your sock drawer since the Clinton administration — now is the time. Don't let your loved ones be the ones arguing over a couch cushion scribble. You don't need millions to need a plan. You just need to care about what — and who — you're leaving behind.

References: Judge cites handwritten will and awards real estate to Aretha Franklin's sons
Aretha Franklin's Four Sons Battle Over Two Handwritten Wills
5 Estate Planning Lessons From Aretha Franklin's Will
Longtime Aretha Franklin estate battle shows the importance of having a proper will