Judge won’t hear media request at Prince estate hearing

As would-be heirs to Prince Rogers Nelson’s millions and their small army of lawyers (nearly two-dozen) huddled in court in Chaska, Minn., for a hearing, Carver County District Judge Kevin Eide said he is in no hurry to decide who can get a piece of the superstar’s fortune.

The rock icon, whose full name was Prince Rogers Nelson, was married and divorced twice.

Prince died at his Minneapolis home in April of an accidental drug overdose, but no will has been found.

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Others have come forward since then to claim a family relationship with Prince, five of whom were represented at the hearing by attorneys. Prince’s other step-siblings – Sharon, Norrine, and John – were more conventionally attired.

“We’ve looked under every box lid …”

“This case is perhaps unique in the state of Minnesota”, he said.

Attorneys for the prospective heirs not listed on Nelson’s initial petition challenged Bremer’s legal interpretations and asked Judge Eide to proceed with caution before excluding their claims.

Williams, who claimed his mother had unprotected sex with Prince at a Kansas City, Missouri, hotel in 1976, is serving eight years in federal prison for unlawfully transporting a firearm in a stolen vehicle.

DNA tests have already determined that a Colorado inmate is not Prince’s son, as he had claimed, according to a person who saw a sealed document and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to release the information.

Subsequently, the parties involved are working to interpret Minnesota law in order to determine what factors legally establish paternity, so they can then determine which, if any, of Prince’s alleged heirs are entitled to a piece of his estate.

“Delay can damage this estate, that’s the reality of this business”, he said.

Brian Dillon, an attorney for Tyka Nelson, urged Eide to act quickly.