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Judge asked to rule on Jackson's estate
Singer's mother wants to ensure his children are beneficiaries
AP Photo
Fans gather to mourn Michael Jackson's death at his star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood.
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Published: June 30, 2009
LOS ANGELES
Michael Jackson's mother asked a Superior Court judge yesterday to name her administrator of her son's estate so she can ensure that his three children are its beneficiaries.
The court filing says that Jackson's parents believe he died without a valid will. Supporting Katherine Jackson in her petition bid to administer the estate was Jackson's father, Joe Jackson.
The court documents say that Katherine Jackson "intends to marshal assets of the decedent for the exclusive use of the decedent's three children -- her grandchildren -- after payment of debts and expenses of administration."
Earlier, Judge Mitchell Beckloff of Superior Court granted Katherine Jackson's request to assume temporary guardianship of her son's children but did not immediately rule on her request to administer their estate.
Beckloff scheduled hearings for July 6 and Aug. 3 to take up the matters, including whether to also approve a request by Jackson to become permanent guardian of her son's children.
So far, a will for Michael Jackson, which might spell out his wishes for care of his children and his estate, has not surfaced.
Jackson never told his family who he had in place to handle his business affairs, a person close to the family has told The Associated Press. Jackson's funeral is still in the planning stages, but his father said he would not be buried at Neverland Ranch, the sprawling playground that Jackson built in the rolling hills of Santa Barbara County.
At a news conference outside the family compound, Joe Jackson said the family was carefully considering how best to celebrate Jackson's legacy. He also said the family was waiting until they had a definitive word on the cause of his son's death.
When Jackson died Thursday, he left behind three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11; and Prince Michael II, 7. The youngest son was born to a surrogate mother.
The filing lists the children as living at the Jacksons family compound in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.
In her request to take over the children's estate, Jackson's mother listed its value as "unknown."
"Minor children are currently residing with paternal grandmother," the filing says in an explanation of why Katherine Jackson should be appointed guardian. "They have a long established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care."
The declaration says that Deborah Rowe is the mother of Jackson's two eldest children but lists her whereabouts as "unknown." A family attorney said that the Jacksons have not heard from Rowe since Michael Jackson's death.
An e-mail message sent to Rowe's attorney for comment was not returned.
The attorney, Marta Almli, wrote in a statement Saturday that "Ms. Rowe's only thoughts at this time have been regarding the devastating loss Michael's family has suffered. Ms. Rowe requests that Michael's family, and particularly the children, be spared such harmful, sensationalist speculation and that they be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace."
For Jackson's youngest child, nicknamed Blanket, yesterday's court filing says "None" for the mother. It also says that all three children "have no relationship with their biological mother."
The court filings show that family attorney L. Londell McMillan has joined a team of lawyers to coordinate attempts to take control of Jackson's affairs.
Edward Chernoff, an attorney for Michael Jackson's doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, said Sunday that Jackson still had a faint pulse and a warm body when Murray found him in bed and not breathing Thursday afternoon.
Chernoff said that Murray was at Jackson's rented mansion when he found Jackson. The doctor immediately began administering CPR, Chernoff said.
Chernoff said his client never gave or prescribed Jackson the painkillers Demerol or OxyContin, and denied reports suggesting that the doctor gave Jackson drugs that contributed to his death.
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