Don’t Go Crazy

In a story unreported, and for good reason, by almost every major news outlet, a woman filed a claim with Prince’s estate claiming to be his daughter. She was adopted in 1975 and has no knowledge of her birth parents, but thinks she might be The Purple One’s daughter because she “possess(es) substantial physical, temperamental and aspirational similarities to Prince” and she is “very artsy and . . . has been described as flamboyant, natural-born star and performer made for the stage.” The woman submitted a photo of herself with purple hair and purple lipstick as proof of her physical resemblance to Prince. The estate is rejecting the claim because it was filed the day after the deadline for making such a claim.

A few points:

1. Prince would have been 16 years old and 1,000 miles from his Minneapolis home at the time the woman was conceived.

2. Even if the woman is Prince’s daughter, she has no rights to his estate because adopted children sever all ties with their biological parents and lose their right to inherit from them. They are entitled to inherit from their adoptive parents.

3. If purple hair and lipstick are enough to allege paternity, Kelly Osbourne should have filed a claim against Prince’s estate.

Photo Credit:  TheBlast.com (linked in linked article)

License:  Fair Use/Education

He Would Die 4 U

It has been two years since Prince died of fentanyl poisoning. Because he did not leave a will instructing how to administer his estate (remember he thought was going to live until he was 1999), a bank has been appointed as executor of his estate while his siblings and half siblings will be the beneficiaries.

Some of his friends are complaining that his executor, who is supposed to maximize revenue from the estate, is not respecting Prince’s legacy by releasing material such as Prince’s original recording of “Nothing Compares 2 U”, allowing tours of Paisley Park, and permitting a hologram image of Prince to be used during Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl show.

Several points:

1. If Prince wanted to control his legacy he should have executed a will. Even people with no sense of mortality need to provide for their demise.

2. It is easy for friends who have no financial stake in Prince’s estate to complain about the revenues being generated by not respecting his legacy.

3. Justin Timberlake needed all the help possible for his Super Bowl performance.

4. Pains me to say this as a huge Prince fan, but Nothing Compares 2 Sinead’s version of the song.

Photo Credit:  Michael S. Williamson/Washington Post
License:  Fair Use/Education (from linked article)

Fountain of Youth = Deprivation and Sorrow?

Besides people battling over the release of Prince’s music, there is not much happening in the wills and trusts arena.  Somewhat related, Emma Morano was the last living person born in the 19th century when she died last month at the age of 117.  The NYT has a brief piece on her possessions and possible reasons for her longevity.  

Morano had been married briefly before separating in her late 30s, had a son who died before turning one, and worked until she was 75.  She lived in a two room apartment for the past 27 years, had not left the apartment in years, ate 3 raw eggs per day for 100 years, and usually ate pasta with raw ground beef until she stopped cooking five years ago.   

No points of any significance, just two observations:

1.  The article did not mention a will but I doubt she had any assets any than a few tchotchkes left in her name.

2.  If eating three raw eggs and raw ground beef daily while staying housebound is the secret to longevity, count me out.  I will gladly live a shorter life to enjoy cooked food and going outdoors.

Photo Credit:  Gianni Cipriano for New York Times

License:  Fair Use/Education

Purple Reign?

The Santa Monica Observer, a weekly newspaper, is reporting that a DNA test shows that a Washington man in his 30's is the illegitimate son of Prince. The man's mother reportedly played in the same clubs as Prince in the 1980's. He and his mother are reportedly estranged due to her contacting him after Prince's death by a Facebook message imploring him to call her by saying "Prince might be your, father call me."

Several pithy points:

1. If the story is true, the man would be Prince's closest living relative and in position to inherit his entire estate.

2. However, if the man had been adopted by another man, his right to inherit from Prince would be closed off because Prince would not be considered his father.

3. Odd that this story is reported only by the Santa Monica equivalent of City Beat which is known for concert listings, hating all Republicans and the local and state government, and for classified ads of men seeking men and women seeking women.

4. Perhaps the national media is too busy asking about Hillary's missing e-mails, her health, and her refusal to hold a press conference in 2016 to bother themselves with updating the search for Prince's heirs.

The Morning Line

I subbed for Paul Daugherty on his The Morning Line blog yesterday for the Cincinnati Enquirer. I reviewed the best and worst of the first half year in sports. I hope you enjoy it.

Float Like a Butterfly, Get Stung By a Bee

The ever not so eloquent, Snoop Dogg, was asked this week if he had a will or estate plan. His NSFW response was, "I don’t give a f--- when I’m dead. What am I gonna give a f--- about? This goin’ on while I’m gone, you know?"

And continuing in his non-King's English, he added, "Hopefully, I’m a butterfly, I come back and fly around and look at all these motherf-----s fighting over my money and s--t, like, 'Look at all these dumb motherf-----s.' Ha!”

Only four sentences, but so many points. Minimizing them:

1, Snoop can make life easier for his loved ones if he spends a bit of time deciding who should inherit the wealth accumulated from his questionable talents. He could eliminate any people claiming to be his illegitimate child by naming people in his will.

2. Prince reportedly has had 900 people come forward for DNA testing claiming to be his haIf-siblings while anyone who can establish that he is Prince's child, will hit the jackpot and inherit all of Prince's wealth.

3. Raise your hand sheepishly if you think Snoop has fewer illegitimate children than Prince. You would be wrong.

4. I doubt Snoop views his family as loved ones when he refers to them as "dumb motherf-----s."

5. Maybe it is just me, but if I were reincarnated, unlike Snoop I would prefer to return as something more fierce and substantial than a short lived insect with pretty wings.

Controversy

As mentioned the other day, Prince did not leave a will. A Minnesota court today appointed a corporate trust company as special administrator to manage his affairs and identify his heirs (I can help - his sister, 3 surviving half siblings, and the children of his 2 deceased half-siblings will inherit under law). His estate is rumored to be worth $300 million. 

Three brief points: 

1. A bank trustee is perfect for this role when no family members have experience in managing such a large amount of assets. 

2. I hope the trustee does not quickly resume Prince's habit of sending take down notices to Youtube for all of his videos posted in recent days. His Super Bowl performance is worth 12 minutes of your time. 

3. Did anyone truly believe that Michael Jackson, who left a will, would provide for his death in a better manner than Prince?

Purple Mess?

Reports are surfacing that Prince did not leave a will. Of course, it is ludicrous to expect someone to present his will one business day after his death. Still, his longtime attorney and friend said that he did not prepare a will for his Purple Majesty because Prince thought he would live to be 1,999. It is unlikely another attorney prepared a will for Prince. He is survived by a sister and three half-siblings.

Three quick points:

1. Live to be 1,999? At some point the attorney/friend has to say, "Dude, the average American lives to be 78. Add fifteen years for taking care of yourself. Tell me who should inherit your sizable estate and let's write it down."

2. Under Ohio law, his estate would pass equally to his sister and half sister (plus any children of his dead half-siblings).

3. If the attorney for Harper Lee were appointed as Executor, we would see various outtakes released as newly discovered material and presumably titled "1998."

Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Musicians.

In light of Prince's untimely death, the below chart is fascinating. Most common age of death for pop stars is 56. Mercifully, the trend line is up.  Full story here.