at 22:51 on February 23, 2007, EST.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Trustees for James Brown filed a motion Friday asking a judge to allow DNA samples to be taken from the body of the late soul singer to prove the paternity of anyone claiming to be one of his children.

Since the singer died two months ago, several people have come forward claiming Brown is their father, said one of the singer's trustees, Buddy Dallas, who would not specify how many claims have been made. Brown named six adult children in his will and his partner, Tomi Rae Hynie, said her young son also is Brown's child.

The singer's body remained in a gold casket at an undisclosed location Friday, said the funeral home that handled Brown's arrangements.

The DNA samples would need to be taken as soon as possible because Hynie has agreed with Brown's children on burial plans, said Rodney Peeples, a lawyer for Brown's trustees.

After the body is buried, obtaining DNA will involve more legal efforts.

"It only makes sense to do that now," Dallas said.

When and where the Godfather of Soul will be buried have not been made public.

The DNA samples are the latest legal fight since Brown died of heart failure in an Atlanta hospital Dec. 25.

Hynie, who has said she is Brown's fourth wife, has sued for a share of Brown's estate. The backup singer for Brown and her son were not included in Brown's will and his lawyers said the two were never legally married because Hynie was married to someone else when they said their vows in 2001.

Hynie's son also may be entitled to part of the estate if it is proven Brown is his father,

Hynie's lawyer, Robert Rosen, supports taking DNA from Brown.

"I'm asking the judge to appoint an impartial person to take the sample and to give me a sample and give the trustees a sample, and anybody in the case who wanted a sample," Rosen said.

"And I want the court to keep a sample so later if this become contested everyone will have access to the same evidence."

A message left for Louis Levenson and David Yount, lawyers for Brown's children, was not immediately returned Friday.


©The Canadian Press, 2007

It's been 2 months already since December