Aretha Franklin estate plan could settle claimed $7.8 million tax debt
| The Detroit News
Pontiac — Aretha Franklin’s heirs and the federal government are in line for partial distribution of her sizable estate, according to Oakland County Probate Court records.
The Detroit News has reviewed a petition, submitted last month in the estate case by attorney Reginald M. Turner, that could lead to partial satisfaction of federal claims that the estate owes more than $7.8 million in unpaid taxes between 2010 and 2017. The “Queen of Soul” died in August 2018 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76.
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The total to be paid to the IRS will eventually be determined “by agreement or litigation” according to the petition from Turner, the appointed temporary special personal representative of the Franklin estate.
The petition calls for an initial $800,000 payment to the government, with more to follow.
The payment plan, which still requires approval from Probate Judge Jennifer Callaghan, also provides for an initial $200,000 to be equally distributed to her four sons, Clarence, Edward, Kecalf and Theodore, as a partial distribution of the still-to-be determined estate.
Reached Monday for comment, Turner said, “I’m not comfortable in discussing it.”
Charlene Glover-Hogan, a co-counsel for Kecalf Franklin, also declined to comment on any payment plan other than saying “no agreement has been approved yet.”
Attorneys for the other heirs either did not return calls Monday or could not reached for comment.
Franklin’s estate, including real estate, luxury cars, furs and jewelry, has been estimated at more than $18 million and as much as $80 million. The legendary singer left no formal will but three hand-written documents have been discovered since her death.
Those documents — including a spiral notebook found under the cushions of a couch — have been disputed by her four adult sons. Nearly $1 million in uncashed royalty checks were found in her possessions, relatives said.
The payment petition, dated Feb. 19, calls for disbursement of future revenues from song royalties, licensing agreement and others Franklin assets.
Under the agreement:
► 45% of quarterly revenue would be committed to the balance of unpaid taxes owed to the Internal Revenue Service
► 40% would go to an escrow account for Franklin’s heirs and future taxes on newly generated income
► 15% would be used to manage the estate. If at the end of a calendar quarter the estate has cash exceeding $1 million in the combined bank accounts in the name of the estate, Springtime Publishing and Crown Publishing, it would be distributed equally to the heirs.
The IRS has objected to Turner’s request for monthly distributions to the heirs without an agreed-upon payment plan for unresolved tax liability. The tax liability is still under appeal with the IRS and any overpayments made would be returned to the estate, according to the plan.
mmartindale@detroitnews.com
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