*People filing paperwork claiming familial ties to Prince in hopes of getting hands on his reported $300 million fortune are “multiplying,” reports USA Today, citing documents filed this week with the Carver County, Minn., court overseeing the matter.
Because Prince died without a will, his sister, Tyka Nelson, filed documents listing her and five other siblings and half siblings as Prince’s heirs. His estate would likely be divided evenly among his brothers and sisters.
But numerous other folks have filed documents claiming to be siblings, children, or distant relatives of Prince — some of whom don’t seem to stand a chance in convincing anyone of their kinship.
Two of the three people claiming to be Prince’s half siblings say they share the same father as Prince, yet they both name different fathers, neither of whom are Prince’s known father, John Nelson.
Documents show three people are claiming to be his children—one man who is currently in a federal prison; one who says Prince adopted him and left him $7 million; and one Connecticut woman who is 43-years-old, which means Prince would have been 14-years-old when she was born.
The Connecticut woman, Taz Laeni Walker, says she was born in St. Paul and adopted by a family that was friendly with Prince. “A friend of my (adoptive) father told me…my mother had multiple sexual partners and Prince’s name was mentioned,” she says in her document. “I inferred from these conversations that my mother had sex with Prince. I believe that I may be the daughter of Prince.”
Seven people are saying that they’re distant cousins related to Prince through the sister of his great-great grandfather. Considering Minnesota law bars such distant relatives from inheriting one’s estate they likely won’t end up seeing any money, even if they are actually related to him.
Lastly, there’s one woman who hasn’t explained what her relationship is to Prince, but is requesting to be included in DNA testing all the same.
The next court hearing on the estate, before Judge Kevin Eide, is set for June 27. The deadline to file as a potential heir was June 10, so some of these claims may not even be considered.
Per USA Today:
Meanwhile, because there is no will, more than half the value of Prince’s estate could end up with the IRS (40% of estates over $5.4 million) and the state of Minnesota (16% of estates over $1.6 million). The deadline for sorting out the tax bills is in January, and Uncle Sam takes only cash.
The estate special administrator, Bremer Trust, has to find that cash, and also sort out claims on the estate from creditors, such as the treasurer of Eighth Day Sound Systems, who claims that Prince owes her $256,010.89 for audio services at Paisley Park not paid for.
A California man claims Prince promised to leave him $1 billion. And several other petitioners filed written claims that are rambling and incoherent to the point of impenetrable. But they’re all in the file, filling up boxes in the Carver County court clerk’s office.
Meanwhile, Bremer Trust is exploring ways to manage and monetize the estate to raise more money to help pay the tax bills. One of their ideas: Open up Paisley Park for public tours.
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