James Brown possessions to be auctioned

James Brown's possessions will be appraised and auctioned, in part to pay taxes his estate owes, court-appointed trustees said Wednesday.

Attorney Adele Pope would not say exactly what items would be auctioned or how much they were worth. She also refused to say after a hearing how much the estate owed.

Brown died in Atlanta in December 2006, throwing into turmoil the future of his trust, which might include music rights and his 60-acre Beech Island home in western South Carolina. The total value is still unclear.

His will called for the items to be divided among the singer's six adult children. But Tomi Rae Hynie, who claims to be Brown's fourth wife and the mother of another of his children, has contested the will.

Hynie argues she is entitled to half the estate. The children also are contesting the will, which was signed 10 months before Brown's death. The trustees have asked Brown's children and Hynie to provide a list of items they don't want auctioned.

An attorney for Hynie, a former backup singer for Brown, said some automobiles were given to her and shouldn't be auctioned.

"It's easier to divide money, and we don't know who will be getting what," Robert Rosen said.