With no known children, Prince’s sister, Tyka Nelson, and at least five half-siblings could share in the estate.
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Following news of his death, other people have claimed they are also related.
Carver County Judge Kevin Eide called the hearing Monday to discuss the protocols to determine who is an heir. Venita Jackson Leverette, for instance, claims she is a half-sibling because Prince’s real father was Alfred Jackson Sr. The hearing will not determine if any individual is a legal heir – that will be the subject of future proceedings.
Almost two dozen attorneys appeared in court Monday for a hearing to determine the methodology for who may qualify as an heir. If there are no parents, siblings come next.
Addressing a courtroom crowded with more than 20 lawyers representing 11 prospective heirs, Judge Eide said that just as Prince was a unique artist, the case presented a unique set of issues for the court to decide. He also said he might close portions of the hearing if he has to address paternity questions about specific people. The trust company overseeing the estate says the potential heirs don’t want to have “their sensitive family histories. broadcast to the world”.
Last week, after a coalition of media organizations attempted to intervene, Eide denied their petition to be heard on Monday but but left open the possibility of scheduling a hearing on the issue of access at a later date.
Prince apparently died without a will. David Crosby, an attorney for Bremer Trust, the court-appointed special administrator for Prince’s estate, said they’d searched through thousands of boxes in four physical locations.
Prince was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive in an elevator at his Paisley Park home in Chanhassen, Minnesota at the age of 57.
It looks like the legal battle over Prince’s estate is going to continue for a while.
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Eide says it will take a while to make those decisions.
