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The Queen of Soul died on August 16, 2018. After making money utilizing her incredible vocals, Franklin’s estate has millions to disperse to her beneficiaries in the next few months. That is, if she had a will.

Franklin failed to create a last will and testament before her passing. Though the court works to alleviate the stress of money issues among her loved ones, the process of delegating millions to her children may prove exhausting and timely. Dying without a will, referred to as intestate, carries laws regarding successors that vary throughout the United States, but some laws cross all state borders. If your loved one dies without a will, you may want to contact an experienced attorney to aid you in obtaining your rightful inheritance.

Franklin’s estate and determining beneficiaries

Aretha Franklin gave birth to four boys throughout her lifetime. At the time of her death, she and her long-time partner, Willie Wilkerson, lived together in Michigan, but they never married.

The process of intestate succession looks first at the presence of children when determining where money will go without the presence of a will. Franklin had four living sons, so it is likely that her estate will be divided among the men.

However, although she shared a home with her partner, Wilkerson may not see any of Franklin’s millions of earnings. For the law to determine that you are a beneficiary of an estate, you must be directly related to the loved one that passed. Unfortunately, long-term relationships do not necessarily apply.

Hiring an attorney during intestate succession disputes

Especially when dealing with large sums of money from an intestate loved one’s passing, you want to hire an attorney to aid in the division of funds. Should one of Franklin’s sons feel that the division is not fair, he has the ability to contest the divide in court to seek his required amount.

In any case, whether your loved one left many millions or just hundreds of dollars after their passing, the court will determine the best way to divide assets, but it is important to speak with an experienced attorney before raising a claim with the court.