Trust fund ruling for Bobby Brown

Bobby Brown is married to singer Whitney Houston

A judge has ordered troubled singer Bobby Brown to prove he has the funds to set up educational trusts for two of his children.

Mr Brown, who is married to Whitney Houston, was given until Friday to offer proof he has enough money to establish the trusts.

The 36-year-old promised to set up the funds as part of a settlement with the mother of his children, Kim Ward.

Mr Brown said he had the money but thought it had been paid by others.

"I've been shooting a television show and recording an album, so it's hard," he told the court.

"For me, it's easy to not know that a payment is not paid because other people are supposed to pay them."

Mr Brown was jailed for one day in 2004 for failing to pay $63,500 (£33,354) in child support payments owed to Ms Kim Ward.

He was released after making the payment.

He fell behind again in March but has now caught up again.

Second chance

He told Judge Paula Carey at the Norfolk Family Court in Massachusetts he was earning money from a reality TV show he was recording with his wife, as well as from music projects.

Mr Brown is expected to make payments totalling $160,000 (£84,042) within the next six months to set up the trusts.

The singer hit the big time in the 1990s with the group New Edition before carving out a solo career with hits including My Prerogative and Every Little Step.

He married Houston in 1992 and they have one daughter together.

But he has had several spells in jail, including one week last year for violating probation on a drink-driving charge.

He hopes to revive his career when his reality show Being Bobby Brown begins airing in the US in June.