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A Minnesota judge has made a ruling on who the heirs are to Prince’s estate. At the time of his death, Prince was estimated to be worth around $200 million.
What Happened?
In a ruling made public Friday, Carver County District Judge Kevin Eide declared that Prince died without a will and that his sister, Tyka Nelson, and five half-siblings are his heirs.
Several people filed appeals after their claims of heirship were rejected. Eide said that if the appellate courts send these cases back to him, he’ll continue to consider them.
Eide also said that Prince’s assets will not be distributed without a formal court order. Nothing will be distributed that might negatively affect the claims of those with pending appeals.
The judge had previously said he wouldn’t declare the siblings as heirs until the appeals situation had been settled. Attorneys for those filing appeals said their interests would be adversely effected if the district court didn’t wait out the appeals process.
However, lawyers for Prince’s sibling did not wish to draw out the process any further, saying additional delays would have increased costs to the estate and impede its efficient administration.
Prince died on April 21 of an accidental drug overdose. Court filings suggest his estate is worth around $200 million. Federal and state estate taxes are expected to consume about half the value.
Prince
Prince was an American singer-songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, philanthropist, dancer and record producer.
He was a musical innovator who was known for his eclectic work, flamboyant stage presence, extravagant dress and makeup, and wide vocal range. His music integrates a wide variety of styles, including funk, rock, R&B, new wave, soul, psychedelia, and pop. He has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He won seven Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award for the film Purple Rain. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, his first year of eligibility. Rolling Stone ranked Prince at number 27 on its list of 100 Greatest Artists, “the most influential artists of the rock & roll era”.
He was 57 when he passed away.
