Larry Birkhead, Howard Stern, and Smith's mother battling for custody

The lower court ruling that would have allowed the burial of former Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith in the Bahamas, has been suspended as the battle over her baby shifted to the Bahamian capital reports Reuters.

Last Thursday (22.02.07), custody of Anna Nicole's body was granted to
Dannielynn's temporary court-appointed guardian, Richard C. Milstein.
Milstein has said the former Playboy playmate should be buried in the
Bahamas, next to her son Daniel, who died last September.

Arthur had wanted her daughter to be laid to rest near their Texan family
home.
Now People reports, the Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach granted an emergency petition by Smith's mother, Virgie Arthur, to stop a court-appointed guardian for Smith's five-month-old daughter from taking the body to the islands, where Smith lived the final months of her life.

The legal maneuvering further delayed a funeral for Smith, the buxom tabloid star who died suddenly at age 39 on February 8 at a Florida casino hotel. Her decomposing body remained at a medical examiner's office in Dania Beach, Florida.

Meanwhile, photographer Larry Birkhead finally met Dannielynn, Anna Nicole Smith's daughter, whom he believes is his child reports TMZ

TMZ reports that the two met this past weekend at Horizons in Nassau, Bahamas, where Howard K. Stern is currently living.

Birkhead and Stern were in the Bahamas for the last few days hashing out settlement negotiations. Birkhead's lawyer, Debra Opri, told TMZ paternity and custody of the little girl are not negotiable; but Birkhead's visit with the baby seems to indicate that Stern is bending.

On Monday, Smith's estranged mother, Virgie Arthur, and Smith's former boyfriend, Larry Birkhead, both fought for custody of the little girl, but the judge made no ruling, leaving Dannielynn with Stern, who is listed as the baby's father on her birth certificate, the Associated Press reports.

A lawyer for Birkhead told reporters after the hearing: "We anticipate DNA testing" to be done.

John O'Quinn, a lawyer for Smith's estranged mother, Virgie Arthur said that Smith's mother asked to see her granddaughter, but the judge said she will need permission from Stern first.

"We want a visit with the baby and Stern won't let us," Quinn said.

Anna Nicole Smith's mother is also battling for custody of her five-month-year
granddaughter.

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Isaacs has banned Stern from taking Dannielynn
away from the Bahamian island until a custody ruling has been made.
Isaacs has also placed a gagging order against the attorneys from making
anything said in the courtroom public.