Court order narrows pop icon Prince's potential heirs to six

Minneapolis: A Minnesota judge overseeing Prince's estate narrowed down the wide pool of potential heirs for the late superstar's fortune today, ruling out nearly 30 claimants while ordering genetic testing for six purported family members.

Carver County Judge Kevin Eide's order requires genetic testing for Prince's sister, Tyka Nelson, plus three half-siblings: Sharon Nelson, Norrine Nelson and John Nelson. Ken Abdo, the attorney for the three half-siblings declined to comment.

Tyka Nelson's attorney did not immediately return a voicemail.

Eide also ordered testing for Brianna Nelson, who has claimed to be Prince's niece, and possible grand-niece Victoria Nelson.

The pair has claimed Briana Nelson's father was Prince's half-brother. Their attorney, Andrew Stoltman, declined to comment.

It's unclear why the judge did not order testing for Omar Baker or Alfred Jackson, two men who were listed as half-brothers in the original petition for the court to name a special administrator to the estate.

Jackson's attorney, Justin Bruntjen, declined to comment. An attorney for Baker could not be immediately reached.

Prince died April 21 of a drug overdose. The process of determining his heirs and parceling out his estate has fallen to the courts because he had no known children and left no will.

A DNA test has already ruled out a Colorado prison inmate who claimed to be Prince's son.

Barring any others who could come forward claiming ties, Eide's order drastically limits who may benefit from Prince's fortunes an estimated USD 300 million or more or gain control of his legacy.

Among those excluded from potential heirship in Eide's order are five unidentified people with shaky claims that Prince was their biological father.