Minnesota Judge Drops 2 From Claim to Prince's Estate
Brianna and Victoria Nelson were excluded after Wednesday decision.
— -- Whenever Prince’s estate is finally settled, there will be two fewer people collecting a piece of it.
A Minnesota judge Wednesday excluded two would-be heirs from any further consideration, according to Carver County District Court documents obtained by ABC News.
Brianna Nelson and her niece, Victoria Nelson, identified in the court documents as V.N., had claimed they were entitled to a share because Prince referred to Brianna’s father and Victoria’s grandfather, Duane Nelson Sr., as his brother, and because Prince’s biological father treated Duane Nelson Sr. like a son. Duane Nelson Sr. died in 2011.
The Associated Press has identified Victoria Nelson as a plaintiff in the case, along with Brianna Nelson and Corey Simmons, who is Brianna Nelson’s half-brother.
But District Judge Kevin Eide ruled that without evidence of a genetic connection between Nelson and Prince, whose birth name was Prince Rogers Nelson, there’s no law to support the women’s claim.
Prince died April 21 of an accidental overdose of the painkiller fentanyl, according to the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office in Minnesota.
The court ruling leaves six heirs with a claim to the estate: Tyka Nelson, who is Prince’s sister, and five half-siblings.
A seventh person, Corey Simmons, who is Brianna Nelson’s half-brother and a party to her now-denied claim, insisted that Prince’s father intended to adopt Simmons’ father, Duane Nelson Sr.
But the judge didn’t deny Simmons Wednesday, instead giving him until Nov. 25 to produce evidence supporting his claim.
Although Prince’s estate is estimated to be worth up to $300 million, it will take a significant hit after the tax bill is paid, which is reportedly expected to knock off about half of the estate’s value.