AUGUSTA, Ga., Jan. 16, 2007
Brown's Will Preceded Wedding, Son's Birth
Godfather Of Soul's Estate Leaves Out 5-Year-Old, Divided Among His Other Six Children
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Play CBS Video Video James Brown's Farewell Concert The Godfather of Soul got a raucous send-off. James Brown's funeral attracted Michael Jackson and a host of other big names who all gave tribute to the singer. Mark Strassmann reports.
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Video Brown Honored At The Apollo Thousands of fans lined up outside the historic Apollo Theater to pay their respects to legendary soul singer James Brown. His body lies in repose on the theater's stage. Russ Mitchell reports.
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Video James Brown's Partner Speaks Singer James Brown's partner, the mother of his 5-year-old son speaks out after his death. She is not allowed to enter Brown's home in South Carolina. Judy Faber reports.
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Tomi Rae Brown, left, and James Brown on June 24, 2003. (AP Graphics Bank)
It was drawn up 10 months before the child's birth and more than a year before their marriage, a newspaper reported Tuesday.
The will was signed Aug. 1, 2000, Strom Thurmond Jr., Brown's probate attorney in Aiken, S.C., told The Augusta Chronicle.
Brown, who died last month in Atlanta at age 73, married Hynie in December 2001. James Brown Jr. had been born six months earlier, on June 11.
The exclusion has added to a dispute about the soul singer's legacy.Photos: James Brown's Funeral In Augusta
Brown's attorneys contend that Hynie is not Brown's widow because she was still married to another man when they said their vows. They have said Hynie later annulled her previous marriage, but she and Brown never remarried.
Hynie says she was legally married to Brown.
The will calls for Brown's personal effects to be divided equally among the singer's six adult children.
North Augusta, S.C., lawyer James Huff said that if a will specifically names some children but excludes others, the excluded children have no claim to the parent's assets, regardless of when they were born.
Huff represented Brown when he sought to annul his marriage to Hynie in 2004, a petition the singer later dismissed.
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- Can't have a prenup if you weren't really married. She was still married to someone else when she wed James. I think their son should at least be taken care of....poor little guy.
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- Pre-nup anyone?
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- Thats not nice..haha!!
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- HYNIE GOT THE SHAFT.....HYNIE GOT THE SHAFT, Y'ALL. HEY! UUUUHHH, GIT DOWN NAH!!
James just wanted a little piece of Hynie.....at the time, she looked all nice and shiny. Then she got all freaky, her gravy boat got leaky. Around his stuff, James found her to be quite sneaky! - Reply to this comment
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
