'James Brown's family settles 15-year inheritance dispute, lawyer claims'.

The family of entertainer James Brown has reached a settlement that ends a 15-year court battle over the late singer's estate, an attorney involved in the mediation process said Friday. David Black, the attorney representing Brown's estate, confirmed to The Associated Press that the agreement was reached July 9. Details of the deal were not disclosed.

The legal battle over the legacy of the "Godfather of Soul" has been ongoing since his death at age 73 on Christmas Day 2006. The entertainer's death kicked off years of bizarre headlines, starting with Tomi Rae Heiney, a former partner who claimed to be Brown's wife, being blocked at the gates of his 60-acre estate while photographers filmed her sobbing and shaking, pleading her''let in.

Brown was known for hundreds of iconic pieces of music, including hits like "I Feel Good" and "A Man'\'s World," and was known around the world for his colorful performances and dynamic stage presence.

More than a dozen claims have been filed over the years by people trying to claim the singer's estate, which courts have estimated to be worth anywhere from $5 million to more than $100 million.

The fight over Brown's legacy has even led to a dispute over what to do with his body. Family members fought over the remains for more than two months, and Brown's body remained frozen in a funeral home located in Golden''casket.

Brown was eventually buried in Beach Island, South Carolina, in the home plot of one of his daughters. The family wanted to turn the home into a place of remembrance for Brown, similar to Elvis Presley's Graceland, but that plan never materialized.

The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled last year that Heinie was not legally married to Brown and therefore not entitled to his multimillion-dollar inheritance. The judges also ordered the district court to "immediately proceed to probate Brown's estate in accordance with his legacy plan," which called for the creation of a trust that would use royalties to fund educational expenses for children from South Carolina and Georgia.

The 2009 Compromise Plan''provided for the transfer of nearly half of Brown's estate to a charitable foundation, a quarter to Heinie and the rest to be divided among his adult children. The state Supreme Court struck down the deal in 2013, citing that then-Attorney General Henry McMaster - the state's current governor - failed to follow Brown's stated will that most of his funds go to charity and instead chose a professional trustee who withdrew Brown's estate from trustees to pay off debts.