Aretha Franklin’s Estate: Why Copyrights Require Estate Planning

The Aretha Franklin estate is a high-profile, and expensive, lesson in how not to manage copyrights in an estate. These copyrights should be considered assets and an integral part of the client’s estate. Such planning includes the management and distribution of copyright assets after the copyright owner passes away. Proper estate planning can ensure the protection and transfer of copyright ownership, as well as provide for the financial well-being of heirs and beneficiaries.