Prince Estate Gold Rush: Judge Nixes Dozens of Prospective Heirs
Dozens of people who had hoped to inherit a piece of Prince’s estate had their dreams dashed on Friday, as a judge clear-cut his way through their heirship claims, according to court documents obtained by TheWrap.
In all, district court judge Kevin W. Eide eliminated 29 people from the inheritance running, and cleared the way for a relative few to undergo genetic testing to determine heirship to the singer, who according to court papers did not leave a will.
The eliminated potential heirs claimed heirship on a number of theories. Four people who claimed to be genetic children of Prince’s were shut out by Eide.
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Another person claiming to be an adopted child of the “Purple Rain “musician was likewise shut out, though Eide said that the court might reconsider if the claimant is “able to provide further proof of the adoption.”
More than a dozen people who claimed to be distant relatives of Prince were shown the door based on the fact that several siblings and half-siblings of Prince have been identified, and their claims would supersede those of more distant relations.
A number of people who claimed that John L. Nelson wasn’t actually Prince’s genetic father also received the heave-ho.
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That left a quartet of siblings and half-siblings, including Prince’s sister Tyka Nelson, receiving the greenlight to undergo genetic testing. Claimants identified as Brianna and V.N., who claim to be the niece and grand-niece, respectively, of Prince, also provided enough evidence to move on to genetic testing.
“As to the applicants who are hereby excluded as an heir of the Decedent as a matter of law, this Order shall be deemed a final determination on the merits of their claims,” the filing notes.
Prince died on Apr. 21, days after he reportedly was treated for an overdose of the opioid painkiller Percocet. He was found unresponsive in the elevator of his Paisley Park home in Minnesota, and responders were unable to revive him.
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An autopsy subsequently revealed that the singer had died of an overdose to the opioid Fentanyl.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.
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