The Godfather of funk, James Brown, passed away on Christmas Day 2006. He left the world with the gift of nearly 70 albums boasting his soulful tenor mingled with irresistible rhythms.
The sentiment of Brown’s hit “I Got You” was translated in his will, which allocated the majority of his estate to the “I Feel Good Trust” to support underprivileged communities.
$2M was dedicated to underwrite scholarships for his grandchildren. Brown’s costumes and other assets were designated to 6 of his 9 children.
However, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future would have their hands full over the next 15 years as Brown’s estate would be furiously battled over in court.
The will did not include his wife, Tommie Rae Hynie and her son who Brown fathered.
Despite the will, Hynie was entitled to a third of Brown’s estate and songs, valued between $5M and $100M, under state law.
However, Hynie’s case was complicated because she wasn’t divorced from her previous husband.
She discovered he had 3 other wives who he hid from her. Hynie’s lawyers asserted that he was a bigamist, rendering their marriage void.
In 2004, Brown discovered her existing marriage and filed for an annulment.
Hynie was, at a time, considered legally married to Brown by the courts.
In 2015, she sold her share of termination rights in 5 of Brown’s songs to Warner Chappell Music for nearly $1.9M.
Another lawsuit followed where Brown’s children accused Hynie and her son, James Brown II, of making “unlawful” deals without informing them.
Supreme Court ultimately decided that Hynie wasn’t a legal heir, stating that previous rulings were “the total dismemberment of Brown’s carefully crafted estate plan and its resurrection in a form that grossly distorts his intent.”
Brown’s story exemplifies the immense importance of estate planning. Protect your legacy and your loved ones with a thoroughly prepared will.
Photo by Heinrich Klaffs.
