Among the claimants were five people who said they were children of Prince and, because the rocker had no recognised offspring, could potentially have gained his entire estate estimated to be worth more than US$300 million. Among them are Prince’s sister, Tyka Nelson, and three half siblings, John, Norrine and Sharon Nelson.
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CHASKA, Minn. (AP) A Minnesota judge overseeing Prince’s estate said Thursday he’ll consider allowing cameras in court on a hearing-by-hearing basis, but broader questions of access into business dealings of the late superstar’s entertainment empire and the many potential heirs claiming a stake to it will have to wait.
The decision strengthens the inheritance claims of the performer’s surviving siblings. It also excludes people who claimed Prince’s father was someone other than the man identified in court records.
In his 19-page order, Carver County Judge Kevin Eide appeared to accept those six claims, stating, “The court is not aware of any objection or dispute with the statement that these persons are the siblings or half-siblings” of Prince.
Four people who claimed to be genetic children of Prince’s were shut out by Eide. Brianna Nelson alleges her late father, Duane J. Nelson, was Prince’s half-brother.
Prince, who died April 21 of a drug overdose, had no known will. Prince’s parents are both dead now. The process of determining his heirs and parcelling out his estate has fallen to the courts because he had no known children and left no will.
The judge tossed out all five of these claims on Friday. Aside from the siblings listed on Prince’s probate filing, the only claimants to survive the judge’s order were Brianna and Victoria Nelson, the daughter and granddaughter of the late Duane Nelson, Prince’s alleged half-brother. A DNA test has already ruled out a Colorado prison inmate who claimed to be Prince’s son.
Eighteen claimants were ruled out as Prince’s children.
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The two that don’t need to be tested – Baker and Jackson – claim relation to Prince through a common mother, Mattie Shaw, but different fathers. He also ordered genetic testing on six people previously assumed to be related to Prince. Presumably they will not require genetic testing to prove their relationship to Prince because they have the same mother.
