UPDATE 1:

Howard K. Stern and Larry Birkhead, the two men who claim to be the father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby, are in the courtroom of Judge Larry K. Seidlin in Florida right now to determine what will happen to Smith's body.

At 9:37 a.m., Howard K. Stern entered the courtroom and took a seat just a few feet away from Larry Birkhead. Smith's mother Virgie Arthur is in the courtroom as well, and warmly embraced Birkhead before the beginning of the hearing. Anna Nicole's father Don Hogan also made a surprise appearance in court.

Judge Seidlin addressed Stern and Birkhead and said, "I expected both of you to show."

To watch the hearing unfold live, click HERE to watch a live feed from Miami affiliate WTVJ

UPDATE 2:



Judge Seidlin has just asked Howard K. Stern to write Dannielynn's name on an easel under the word "daughter," the reason for which was not entirely clear. Stern took a marker, strode across the room somberly, and wrote the name on a sheet of white paper on the easel.

"Why are we spending so much time here?" asked the judge. "We're here to save one child."


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UPDATE 3:

In a sharp and intensely personal accusation, Howard K. Stern's lawyer Krista Barth complained to Judge Larry Seidlin that Larry Birkhead's lawyer Deb Opri, sitting just a few feet from Stern, accused him of "killing" Anna Nicole Smith during court proceedings this morning. As Barth spoke, Stern glared for several moments in the direction of Opri and Birkhead -- the two men and their attorneys are seated right next to each other in Broward County courtroom.

Barth made her comment as lawyers for the multiple parties in the case introduced their various pleadings. Shortly thereafter, the court went into recess for a hearing on Virgie Arthur's status as next of kin to her granddaughter Dannielynn. As of 11:00 am EST, the court is still in recess.

From channel 6 in Florida:

All the major players in the case are in a Broward County courtroom today to claim the body of the former model.

Attorneys for Howard K. Stern, Smith's longtime companion, are expected to argue that she wanted to be buried in the Bahamas next to her son Daniel. Testimony may also be heard from Smith's ex-boyfriend, Larry Birkhead, who disputes this claim.

Birkhead is just one of the men claiming to be Smith's baby's father. His paternity claim was to be taken up at a closed-door hearing today in Los Angeles.

It's a courtroom battle that has gotten pretty nasty. Smith's mother, Vergie Arthur, Stern and Birkhead are all in the same courtroom for the very first time on Tuesday. All are expected to take the stand.

Stern's attorney claims his client has rights to the body, and according to Smith's will he's the one who has her best interest in mind.

Smith's mother disagrees.

"If Howard had really loved her, he would have helped her get off the drugs. He wouldn' t have let her keep doing them. If he truly loved her. He would have helped her. He did not help her. He let her die," Arthur told NBC 6.

Arthur's attorneys claim she's the next of kin and according to Florida law, should have rights to the body. Arthur wants to bury her daughter in her hometown in Texas.

"I think everybody knows Anna did not want to go to Texas when she was alive," said Stern's attorney, Krista Barth.

Birkhead, who has been Arthur's ally in the fight, says his interests are with Smith' s 5-month-old baby girl, Dannielynn.

The judge has appointed an administrator who is expected to make his recommendations determining who has the right to finally lay Smith's body to rest.

No expectation for an immediate answer is in sight from Circuit Judge Larry Seidlin. The judge says he will take his time and hear all the testimony before making a decision.

In the courtroom earlier today, Stern closed his eyes and rested his forehead on his hand as Smith's embalming was discussed.

A lawyer for Stern has handed over a copy of the former Playboy model's will, but it does not mention her burial wishes. Without written proof, Seidlin will be forced to hear testimony from those who claim to know what Smith wanted.

I know, I know, tl;dr

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Howard: Anna Nicole "was my whole world."

Howard K. Stern is on the witness stand in the Florida courtroom and is giving testimony about his relationship to

Stern said that he became "more than friends" two years ago, having met when Stern became her lawyer. He also said that they kept their romantic relationship secret. '"We became more than friends," said Stern. "She was my whole world, everything to me. She was my lover."

Stern added that Anna Nicole's son Daniel Smith was "like a brother" to him, and that "Daniel was a great boy and a wonderful wonderful person."

Stern: Anna Wanted to Be Buried Near Marilyn

On the witness stand, Howard K. Stern said that Anna Nicole Smith wanted to be buried near Marilyn Monroe in Los Angeles but that it was prohibitively expensive. He added that she thought she would die young, like Marilyn, and she thought she would die while giving birth to Dannielynn. "She talked of death really from the time that I met her," said Stern.

Stern said they also looked at burial plots in Burbank, Calif. Later, after Daniel died, the issue of burial "went back and forth for some time" said Stern, who suggested that Daniel be buried in L.A. Anna Nicole insisted that Daniel be buried in the Bahamas.

Said Stern, "She died emotionally when Daniel died. It was the reason why she didn't want to bury him than earlier than ... she did. It was the most difficult thing that I've ever seen anyone go through."

Stern also told the court that Anna's second husband J. Howard Marshall was "truly, truly the love of her life."

Stern: Anna Didn't Want to Be Worm Food

Howard K. Stern just told the court that Anna Nicole wanted him to look into how secure cemetery ground plots were in the Bahamas because she and son Daniel were "afraid of bugs." There were no mausoleums available at the Bahamian cemetery for more than two people, so they had to look for plots.

Stern also said that Daniel didn't wear a suit in his coffin, and that Anna Nicole "wanted to crawl" into the coffin with Daniel at her funeral.

Stern's DNA Subpoenaed Over Lunch

Howard K. Stern's lawyer told the judge that Stern was served by lawyers for Larry Birkhead with a subpoena during the lunch break in the Florida trial.

He was served with a subpoena for his DNA in California, TMZ has learned.

Judge Larry Seidlin stressed to the Calfiornia judge that he had asked Stern to appear in Florida for "a limited purpose," after Stern's attorney complained of being unfairly served.

Story developing...

Stern: I Didn't Want to Be Known as Gold-Digger

Howard K. Stern told the court that he didn't want to get formally married to Anna Nicole Smith because he didn't want to be perceived as a gold-digger, even though it was Smith's wish to marry. Stern said he referred to Anna as his wife, and Anna referred to him as her husband. But he acknowledged that their marriage wasn't legally binding.

He also said they were scheduled to get married again this week. Stern added that Anna told him she could not put her son Daniel in the ground unless he (Howard) and Anna "were together."