Why do I feel like whoopis account of why aretha stuffed it into the sofa actually happened

This is very on brand for Ms. Franklin. She was old school to the core. She required all bookings to be paid upfront in cash. She carried her purse EVERYWHERE (even on stage during performances), and only ventured to gigs by bus.

My grandmother passed two months ago. She planned everything. She even wrote her own obituary. She made sure no one fought or had stress about what to do when she died. She even picked out the dress she wore at her funeral.

This conversation really struck close home to me. My mom planned everything from what she wanted to wear to what we ate after the burial and that was the biggest gift she gave our family. It made things easier for us decision wise and we could come together and have that time to mourn.

Gosh 2018? I still feel like she just passed away two weeks ago. R-E-S-P-E-C-T to the Queen of Soul

I used to work in a ER, that was eye opening. I rewrite my will every 5 years.

What Aretha needed was a TRUST! A will is more for a house or one thing. A Trust you can assign ownership along with instructions

Joy: ...very optimistic of you... 😂 I love her too much! 😂❤

My Grandparents never had will and my parents and their siblings fought over everything.

This is a very important conversation.

Sarah looks gorgeous.......... again. hair , makeup, clothing yessssssssss

My grandma passed in August and I’m so grateful she took care of every single detail. I can’t imagine having to deal taking care of everything while grieving at the same time.

Whoopie singing " Dust in the wind" is hilarious.😂😂😂

My favorite is when Sunny Hostin says "I don't like that" with a sad face so honest and so funny! Happens all the time.

Sadly money & grief brings out the very worst in too many people.

Aretha Franklin the Queen of Soul. Aretha had faith that her cancer would go away. Many times she planned on a will. She started wills many years ago changed things started again changed stuff again and then before she could complete the last one she became ill. That cancer really took her out. Rip Aretha Louise Franklin.

This needs to be a cautionary tale for all entertainers (look at Prince’s estate) and everyone else. Get a legally binding will to avoid all of this. Or, you might say you don’t care and the family will figure it out. Either way, do something so it doesn’t go back to the State.

Whoopi, do you think she forgot about it? No, she didn't forget about it. She just forgot about it. 😂😂😂

So important I was recently diagnosed with something that "may" be terminal, so I am in the process of drafting my will. I want my family to be at ease so they don't have to deal with anything beyond their grief.

Whoopi’s take was so funny and on point about her own mom and I adored Joy’s Woody Allen quote

My parents put off making a will for years. When my dad died at just 55 my mom had one made up within two months and said I can’t believe I waited this long.

I told my wife throw me in a trash bag. I'm not going to know the difference. She said no.

My 59-year-old brother was killed in a car crash earlier this year. He had no insurance, no money, and no will. It was just horrifying for his daughters He wanted a full military ceremony which the VA does NOT pay for.. he got his wishes, everyone else went broke and one of mi nieces was evicted from her home one month later. Please get a will and life insurance

the best gift you can give your kids is write a will or make a trust.

Writing a will makes you realize your own mortality.

This segment leaves no doubt that Joy is the greatest comedian in history, hard stop.

I'm an estate planner and usually we use the term `trigger event' rather than "when you die"... and many people don't write a Will. It's not about how much - there's many things to put together (as what Sarah shared here) .. so don't delay. A Will will help minimise family conflicts and squabbles too.

Not the dust in the wind, Whoopi.😂😂😂

My dad passed away in 2016 from an heart attack. I was 25 at the time. He lost his dad young too. So my dad always told us what he wanted us to do when he die. Not like money things but a way to say goodbye to him. And it help us so much to pay homage to what he wanted.

Survivors often fight over possessions, money and even custody of minor children. It's imperative that if you're married and/or have children that you have a will. Also it's important to confirm before making that will who gets custody of your kids. There are many reasons siblings have to decline custody and you need to be aware of this before just dropping that in a will.

I will say this...I have the honor and privilege of assisting our Senior Citizens or Medicare population through my company on a daily basis. I've heard so many horror stories over the years that it made me bring this up to my wife. We both look at death a little differently than most due to losing parents at early ages. I lost my Mother when I was 17 and she lost both her parents by the time she was 17. We know how that level of loss can be debilitating. I'm 43 now...and about 5 years ago, we took care of all of this because we both have experienced the "tomorrow isn't promised to you" part of life already. It IS a tough conversation to have like Joy said, but it is VITAL and NECESSARY! I planned a party for myself. Even my tombstone will have a funny picture of me on the back of it watching you walk away! 😂 My wifey hates that part, but hey...it's a part of who I am. I'm not necessarily the life of the party, but I am the guy, when my people see me, a smile appears on their face. I want it to stay there even when I finally leave them. I've watched families literally break after family members pass on. I even watched my own family go through a traumatic time when my Uncle suddenly passed away in his sleep...and my Father's sisters wanted to hold on to their baby brother's belongings...not understanding that these things should have went to his children (my cousins). This happened in 2010...they STILL do not speak to this day. Again, it is a hard conversation I will admit, but I know this...when I go...the love of my life is well taken care of...my children are well taken care of...and most importantly, they don't have to worry about ANYTHING dealing with me. It's signed, sealed, and delivered and of course paid for! This goes for my wife as well because of course... tomorrow is not promised. If you're reading this, I don't know you, but I do care about you and your loved ones. IF you are able to financially start making these arrangements for yourself, it will be the GREATEST thing you can do for those you will leave behind. You are loved and when you go...even if only for a moment...your loved ones can't breathe, can't think, won't eat, can't sleep...it can be paralyzing. This does the work they can't do and allows them time to process your home going. It's not about the right or wrong thing, but rather a final act of love to take care of those who love you most...by taking care of yourself...even after. Love and blessings to you and yours 🙏🏿🖤💪🏿

Such a great segment, another thing we need to be Aretha thankful for, bless her on her extended vacation!

We need to get over our fear of death

*Queen Aretha sings again.*

Had that conversation with my mom when i was about 14. Told her I'd cremate her and set the urn beside me so we could watch TV together at night. She said something about not wanting to burn and then the next day went shopping for a burial plot. Now she's got everything planned out and she bought an insurance policy specifically to pay for her funeral.

Such a beautiful, candid conversation. The most important thing I learnt about death is that it is just another phase of life.

About ten years prior to my mothers death, I asked her if she had a will. She said no, you all can fight over my property when I'm dead. That is exactly what happened and relationships have been ruined.

When my father passed, it wasn't all planned out, but my family got through it. I made the decision about what he wore... a pair of jeans and one of his favorite flannel shirts... he never wore a suit. Also I chose where the service was to be held... in our former hometown, not where we lived. It was for immediate family and friends only. It's been 23 years later, and I still miss him. 😢

Whoopi’s mom was just as funny as she is!!

Lol laughed rhe whole segment microwave 🤣!

I'm surorised they honored those handwritten wills

Continue Resting In Peace Aretha Franklin.🙏🙏🙏🙏

I appreciate Sara and Joy for telling Sunny it was to expensive and cost a lot of money for whatever she was saying about being buried on top of something

A will is like a 'living' letter of your thoughts, feelings and wishes. If a person isn't confident enough to write a will, then at least make/arrange a funeral plan. There's more benefit to having this sorted out beforehand as funerals cost a CRAZY amount of money and stress, especially with all the upfront statutory fees. Doing it beforehand also usually gives more options on which funeral director to use, finding out if they have a payment plan with instalments etc choices that are not so easy to come by after a loved one dies. Speaking from experience.

I wrote everything down for my son. From burial to what I want to go to people and to whom. Also, I wrote my obituary with provisions to add in things that occurred through the years before I passed ( marriages, grandchildren). I had to write my mom's when she passed away and I don't want my son to have to do that. Then I made copies and mailed them to him.

I think the jurors acknowledged both wills were legit, but they ruled that the one found in the couch over-ruled the other one found in a locked cabinet. Cremation is the way to go and don't hang on to the ash.

I've had family that were literally too afraid or just refuse to talk about where their stuff goes when you die.

Joy to Alyssa “Very optimistic of you”… lol

“Very optimistic of you” JOY BEHAR 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Whoopiiiiii.....the thought of you dying just made me tear up......

Rest in peace, forever Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin ❤️ forever in our hearts, thank you for the music/art, laughs, presence, & activism. I'm glad the will has been allowed by the jury, so the family can stop fighting and get to healing life without her.

At the wealthy level, they need a trust, not just a will. The only winners when the family starts fighting over assets are the lawyers who get to bill the crap out of the estate.

That's why I keeep telling my mom to sort out her stuff. My dad died from Alzheimer's and did nothing mind you he had other kidssss and it was his downfall. One took advantage of him through potter of attorney and it was difficult for me to overturn due to my own health issues. It's sad because my dad deserved a better late life to the end. I even lost the home I grew up in due to that same ungrateful son who never lived nor built it but both my parents. I don't care what it is, get stuff in writing

My mom had everything together when she died...it helped us out when she passed away and we weren't really ready..no one is..but I agree with Joy..I didn't like talking about it to my mom when she was putting it together...but it is reality and I need to get my stuff together before I leave here for my girls...it's something I need to start the process for it and I'll definitely go to the funeral home my mom and grandma went to..they were awesome

Christopher Wray is doing a stellar job… simply by doing … his job

It costs money to hire a lawyer to make a will. Some of us don't have that kind of money.

You have to update these things, too! It's so important. My husband and I (we're a gay, married couple) not only did wills, but we also put our stuff in a trust with each other as executors and with each of us having our medical power of attorney. We did that because even with wills there's a measure of probate but when it's in a trust, there's not really. And... when we first did it about 6 years ago, we've since sold and purchased a couple of properties, so we needed to go back and add/remove those items to the trust and wills. And, not to be too morose, but aside from avoiding any kind of probate, the other reason we put our stuff in a trust is because we're not 100% sure our marriage is going to be recognized in all 50 states for much longer.

My husband and I had wills and a trust drawn up when I first became pregnant. The estate lawyer remarked on our youth but unless you want both sides of your family fighting over who gets what you had better make a will. As they used to say "You could get hit by a bus while crossing the street tomorrow." Why wait?

I agree with Joy. A lot of people don't like to face reality, so they just ignore it and they keep putting it off forever.

I'm 34, the oldest of 4 on my moms side and an only child to my dad. Both sides have had these talks with me and all of us kids, so we know what to do if God forbid they go early or when they eventually pass. Both sides have it in writing and I've always appreciated it because when my great grandparents went it was a mess and so hard on the family (I was a kid so I wasn't part of the fighting thankfully). My husband and I have things in writing (mostly because he's a soldier) and his dad is in charge of medical decisions for now because, like sunny, I would find it to difficult to let go. Nobody is promised a tomorrow, and while it can be a difficult thing to think about, taking care of these things ahead of time can be a beautiful "parting gift" to give your loved ones.

Sunny Hostin be so full of herself sometimes 😂😂😂😂

Continue to RIP Aretha Franklin, the queen of soul. I appreciated Sara, Alyssa so very much with their sensitivity and heartfelt comments

My Mom died recently and we're still going through probate here in FL. My sister and I are going through everything but we are not fighting. Now I have a Living Will, a regular Will, my Sis is my Durable POA and my Health Surrogate. I also have multiple sclerosis and I am also looking at pros/cons of an ALF or staying home with home care. My Sis and I are working together but I have heard horror stories about other families.

I agree with Joy completely. It's been holding me from going to get a will. I've got to get this together. 🙏 💖 🌹

I believe that Robin Williams did have some documents saying his image can't be used for over 50 years after his passing

So glad they're talking about this. This is so important. Idk what it's like in the states but in Canada basically whatever you don't set up to pass on to your loved ones goes to the government. No thanks.

RIP Aretha, You and your voice are still so missed !!!....... I have to mention Joy Behar is looking great in her 80`s .

Sunny, as far as I know, the Catholic Church no longer opposes cremation.

I am very much in the boat of: do whatever you want with my body, its just a body after im dead. I would prefer my body go to something useful. Like either back into the earth to nourish it or give it to science or something. I dont care to be buried or cremated but I dont mind either way, but would definitely prefer to be used for something meaningful.

My father diedin 2012. He divorced my mother and remarried in 2004. There are three of us siblings. We got nothing. His wife got his profit sharing and his life insurance. She also buried him in the town he grew up in instead of where my grandmother is buried (where we could visit more often). No one in my family believes these were my father's wishes but there never was a will. He was only 58 and it came out of nowhere. I truly believe he would be furious at how we've been treated. She also tried to sell his Indianapolis pace truck on Facebook without even asking if we wanted but we ended up tricking her on that one ( his prize possession). Had to pay $11,000 to get it back but we managed to scrape up enough cash to do it.

That moment when Whoopi was I might be in your backyard, you don’t know All I pictured was Sam Wheat telling Oda Mae “I told you it’s fun”

My grandma did the pre-need at the funeral home. She pre paid for her entire funeral and it made it so much easier on us.

For someone rich and famous I would think you would have a proper one in place with your local register of wills and lawyers office. When there’s a lot of money and property involved (probably, I would expect in Aretha’s case) you can’t expect all the survivors to agree and try to evenly divide it up.

Paying in full or payments for your cemetery plot is also important because PRICES SKYROCKET AFTER someone passes and makes it more stressful and tough for families to deal with. We dealt with that when my grandmother passed but on the same day we bought my mom's plot my mother also bought hers and made it 100% easier on me as her only child when she passed away unexpected and young.

Lawyer advice too my mother was give what you want your family to have before she died Because ppl fight over wells

I already have everything planned out for myself and everyone knows what needs to be done, they even have copies of my will distributed amongst them, no arguments, names in place, insurance copies distributed as well, burial plot paid for, you name it, it's a done deal, don't want the drama amongst my loved ones ❤

PTL Ladies…good discussion; Whoopi, you are looking fabulous. I love your hair 💯💌!

I'm not afraid of death, it is the dying process of the body deteriorating in capacities.

The Fear is Real.

poltergeist LMAO y'all are so funny

Good segment ladies, thank you 🙏 👍 😁

At work they asked us to do a PowerPoint presentation on a subject of our choice, I chose estate planning. My first question to the group of 30 people, "How many of you at least have a will?" Only one person out of the 30 raised their hand!

Always Date your own documents wherever you place them 💞

I haven't seen these ladies in a while. The make-up is great and everyone looks wonderful.

Love Arethra! ❤

Joy to the World 😂

Extended Vacation seems also sounds much more Cooling than saying when we Die. “Joy” knows what she’s talking about now.

When my husband and I got married that we had our Wills and Living wills and a durable power of attorney etc., done because I have seen families member fight over things. Having it done is very important since you just never know what might happen.

Living Trust. Not a will. Also, update ever so often.

What a sad but significant talk.

I have already told my loved ones I want to be buried as a pod and my plant of choice will be cannibus🤷🏽‍♀️😎that way my friends and family can come pluck my buds and have an anniversary session around the fire pit!!!😂😂😂

EXCELLENT OUTCOME

In Michigan she did put a will together. Typing it in 12pt font doesn't make it more legal.

I think the reason I haven’t made one is because of the fear of writing it down that it will happen. It’s like words are powerful and written words are even more powerful. You know like manifesting things into existence. That’s my reasoning anyway.

My father is buried in a mausoleum his coworkers were so impressed, they started making burial arrangements.

How could she have expected a will hidden in a couch would ever be found?

🎼 When they roll is called up yonder 🎼

The cemetery. It’s where all my family are dying to go. 😏

I've had to handle 3 funerals and two as executor.. Yes have a will... but ALSO the plans for the funeral (or lack of one) is so important. Choosing a coffin and all that stuff is just traumatic on top of grief. The same with health/end of life choices. I had to choose when to stop treatment with both my parents. My dad wanted that since I have some medical background. Still it was so very hard. My husband had most of his planned as he had a lengthly illness. But he wanted a green burial which is still very unusual around here so I spent a lot of time explaining why there was no embalming, regular coffin, vault, etc.

My parents didn't leave any instructions other than wanting to be cremated, when, I as the oldest tried to do everything fairly it blew up and became a big family mess! And my parents didn't have much other than life ins. To take care of their funeral and a house😢