Prince's Half-Brother Speaks Out as Hearings for $300M Estate Begin

— -- Alfred Frank Jackson, a half-brother of Prince, is among the late music legend's family members expected to appear in court today as the division of Prince's estimated $300 million estate begins.

Jackson, 62, who shares the same mother as his younger half-sibling, described himself as being “pretty surprised” to learn of Prince’s death last month at the age of 57. Jackson shared memories of Prince in an exclusive interview with ABC News.

He remembered his brother as being “real competitive” and a “ladies’ man,” and while he acknowledged not having seen Prince in a while, Jackson said he wrote to him often.

He remembered looking out for his brother when he would get into “a few scrapes” when they were younger.

“Growing up, I protected him ... I was so much taller than him, I protected him,” Jackson said.

Prince, who died at his home in Minnesota, had no known will or trust, according to his sister, Tyka Nelson. It's expected that Prince's estate, worth an estimated $300 million, will be divided between Nelson and his five half-siblings, if state law is followed.

Frank Wheaton, Jackson’s attorney, told ABC News that a judge will lay out the laws and rules of the process during today’s court proceedings. He said he expected that a special administrator will be appointed to perform “a secure assessment of everything that has occurred in Prince's life.”

Wheaton addressed reports of disagreement and negativity among family members, including that Jackson was not invited to the musician’s memorial. Wheaton said Jackson had a “heartwarming” visit to Paisley Park, Prince’s home in Chanhassen in the Minneapolis suburbs, after the singer’s death.

“The rumor mill is at work and some of the things that have happened we know should be afforded an inadvertent behavior as opposed to a purpose-filled behavior,” he said. “Even things that Alfred has had to go through, we know that some of them were not purposeful. But nonetheless we have done everything we could to be respectful to this process.”

Wheaton added that any misgivings were put to rest after the family met.

“If you saw the hugs that were given, you would know that this is a family that loved one another no matter what ... Alfred contacted me through his brother and said, ‘I want you to be here to make certain that I have an opportunity to sit at the table’ and everyone welcomed him accordingly,” he said.