*A lawyer representing Prince’s niece and grandniece says his clients intend to make a joint claim against his multi-million dollar estate by the end of next week. Brianna Nelson, 31, and Victoria Nelson, 11, are the daughter and granddaughter of Duane Nelson, the reported half-brother of Prince who died in 2011. Their lawyer, Andrew Stoltmann, said that even though Duane was not listed as a sibling when Prince’s sister Tyka Nelson filed the singer’s probate case in April — he doesn’t expect a problem with them seeking a piece of the savory Prince pie.
“It could have just been an oversight. I’m not reading nefarious intent into it,” Stoltmann said.
Andrew claims both Brianna and Victoria are legal heirs. Victoria is the daughter of Duane’s only son, who died when she was a baby. “They’re entitled to their share, and we’re assuming it’s going to be an amicable process,” the lawyer said.
A source previously claimed to The News that while Duane and Prince were raised as half-brothers, Duane didn’t learn until he was a teen that he was not the biological son of Prince’s dad.
Stoltmann denied that claim Friday.
“That’s not true. He’s a blood relative,” the lawyer said.
It’s not clear yet if a DNA test will follow.
“Whatever the judge decides,” Stoltmann said.
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Tyka said in her April probate court filing that Prince died without a will. She listed herself and five other siblings — John, Norrine, Sharon, Alfred and Omarr — as his legal heirs under Minnesota law. Their half-sister Lorna died years earlier and had no children.
Prince’s dad John Nelson is listed as the father on Duane’s birth certificate, Minnesota lawyer Michael Padden told The News.
In a Facebook statement Friday, Tyka denied a prior report that she “stormed out” of a family meeting concerning the superstar’s estate last month.
“No one in my family has fought about anything, and least of all me … but I must admit I think it’s funny that I’m the one they say ‘stormed out’ or that ‘we are at war.’ Me? Us? Really? Where was I when all that happened?” she wrote.
Tyka said the only memorial and public event she plans to attend is the one she and her family are planning, set to take place in August.
“The grief process is a unique experience to each individual and therefore I support any and all memorials or funerals that have happened and/or are being planned … However I will not be in attendance, because I feel that once … is enough,” she wrote in her Friday Facebook post.
Prince was found unresponsive in an elevator at his Paisley Park estate on April 21. He was pronounced dead at the scene at age 57. His official cause of death has not been released. Carver County Sheriff and DEA investigators are probing possible criminal activity related to the reported prescription painkillers the music icon was said to be addicted to.
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