The still-stinging death of pop music icon Prince has made the world a sadder place. The singer/songwriter, master guitarist, actor and bonafide musical genius touched millions of people with his life’s work.

Unfortunately, Prince won’t have a say in what happens to the fruit of his life’s work now that he has passed.

Why?

Because Prince did not have a will, or a living trust, or any kind of estate plan in place when he died.

That means the state of Minnesota likely will be responsible for the disposition of an estate valued at some $300 million. That figure doesn’t even include the estimated $500 million in publishing rights to Prince’s musical catalog, or future royalties from ongoing sales of his music (which skyrocketed right after his passing).