Judge Setting Up DNA Testing To Determine Prince Estate Heirs
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) – The effort to settle Prince's estate is getting messier by the minute.
The entertainment superstar died two months ago without a will, and there are more than 20 people who have filed petitions claiming they are related to the late superstar.
The musician died in April of an accidental drug overdose at his Chanhassen compound, Paisley Park. No will has been found. So, Bremer Trust is overseeing his estate. The twice-divorced musician's parents are dead and he didn't have any known children.
Prince's sister, Tyka Nelson, and four of his known half siblings attended a hearing on Monday in Carver County Court in which a judge discussed procedures for DNA testing to determine who his blood relatives are. Nelson and the half siblings had no comment as they left a hearing in which a judge stressed he wanted to "get it right" to determine who Prince's heir are.
Under Minnesota law, because Prince had no will, the siblings will inherit his estate. But there are more than 20 petitions that have been filed by other people claiming to be related to Prince.
A woman named Venita Jackson Leverette has filed a claim that John Nelson, seen here with Prince as a baby, was not really Prince's father and that her father is Prince's real dad, so she is an heir. One of her attorneys spoke briefly after the hearing.
"We feel our client has a very strong legitimate claim," James Selmer said.
The attorney for Prince's half- brother, Alfred Jacksons, said he was not worried.
"These are just claims at this point. Until there is an evidentiary hearing, we won't know anything else," Frank Wheaton said.
Judge Kevin Eide says he is setting up a process for DNA testing to determine who really is related Prince. Estate attorney Joel Mullen, who is not involved in the case, says the DNA tests will determine who gets a share of Prince's millions. He said,
"The laws of intestate succession are very clear. It's about actual descendants, meaning blood relatives," Mullen said.
The estimates for the value of Prince's estate vary widely and range from $100 million to in upwards of $300 million. Aside from monetary assets, there is still the matter of what will happen to Prince's Paisley Park.
Before Prince died, there were reports he wanted to turn Paisley Park into a museum; a tourist attraction. The singer's legal heirs will make the final decision.
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