With the untimely death of Prince last week on April 21, the world has just learned through his sister Tyka Nelson and a presiding judge, that he didn’t leave a Will, according to court documents she filed on Tuesday (April 26) in a probate court for Carver County, Minn, reports USA Today.
Nelson states her deceased brother did not leave behind any surviving spouse, children or parents. He is only survived by his sister and a few other half-siblings, whom she says are all interested parties in his estate. The siblings include: John Nelson, Sharon Nelson, Norrine Nelson, Omar Baker and Alfred Jackson. She also listed another half-sister, Lorna Nelson, who died and left behind no children.
“The Decedent died intestate,” Nelson said in her court petition.
“I do not know of the existence of a will and have no reason to believe that the Decedent executed testamentary documents in any form,” she added.
Just in: Prince’s sister says he never left a will, files suit for his assets: pic.twitter.com/cuqSnM7hvV
— Ari Melber (@AriMelber) April 26, 2016
In the petition she also stated that Prince had “substantial assets consisting of personal and real property that requires protection,” and that he “owned and controlled business interests that require ongoing management and supervision,” adding that, “he “has heirs whose identities and addresses need to be determined.” Reportedly, Prince’s estate is worth $300 million.
The future of what is going to happen with Prince’s estate is still in the air, but according to estate lawyers, if there is no will left behind in the state of Minnesota, half siblings are treated like full ones in terms of inheritance purposes.
Other attorneys predict however, this may cause some turmoil because faux family members can appear, and try to redeem some of the estate.
“It’s astonishing, absolutely astonishing that he did not have a will,” Jerry Reisman, an estate lawyer based in Long Island told USA Today. “You’re going to have ‘siblings’ coming out of the woodwork alleging they are siblings, everyone is going to be fighting over this estate. Let this be a lesson to everyone: People should run out and make their will.”
Let’s hope this is resolved in an ethical manner. Further details for this case are still pending.