Judge Finds James Brown Was Married When He Died

As I have previously discussed, a legal battle over James Brown’s estate centered around Brown’s marital status at the time he died has been ongoing since 2007. Tomi Rae Hynie Brown, who was not included in Brown’s will, claimed to be his surviving spouse, but that claim was challenged based on her being already married at the time she and Brown were wed.

In In re the Estate of James Brown, Judge Doyet Early III held that Hynie Brown was legally married to Brown at his death his 2006, because her previous marriage was annulled due to it being found void based on bigamy, as her previous husband was already married.

See Meg Mirshak, Tomi Rae Hynie Brown Ruled James Brown Widow, The Augusta Chronicle, Jan. 27, 2015.

Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.