Tomi Rae Hynie, James Brown's partner before his death, has filed a petition in South Carolina's probate court to contest Brown's will, which did not include Hynie or the five-year-old son she had with the musician.
Although Hynie and Brown swapped vows in 2001, attorneys for Brown's trust claim that the marriage was not legal because Hynie was not yet divorced. Plus, after the annulment of Hynie's marriage, the couple never made their marriage vows official.
Hynie also says she has not been allowed onto the Beech Island estate premises to retrieve her belongings, but Brown's attorney and friend, Buddy Dallas, claims Hynie never made any requests for any personal items from the home.
James Brown's will did name his six other children and included his personal items, such as jewelry, clothes and boats. However, the will did not include other assets listed in the trust, such as the home and music rights of the singing legend.
In addition to Hynie's petition, Brown's six adult children have petitioned to have Dallas, Alford Bradley and David Cannon, of Dallas & Co., removed as executors of the trust on the grounds of "mismanagement." A hearing for their petition is scheduled to take place at Aiken County courthouse on Feb. 9, the same day as Hynie's.
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