Michael Jackson Will: Kids to Katherine Jackson; Cuts Debbie Rowe

by cyn.khoo | July 1, 2009 at 10:32 am

1109 views | 15 Recommendations | 12 comments

Michael Jackson's will was filed in an emergency hearing Wednesday, July 1, 2009. In his will, Jackson gave custody of his three children, ages 7 to 12, to Katherine Jackson, his 79-year-old mother. Upon Katherine Jackson's inability or unwillingness, custody of the children would go to singer and friend Diana Ross.

Jackson stated in his will, "I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife, Deborah Rowe Jackson." Deborah Rowe and Michael Jackson were married in 1996 and divorced in 1999. Rowe Jackson gave custody of their two children to Jackson, then tried to retrieve custody in 2003; the two settled in 2006 under undisclosed terms.

Jackson left his entire estate to a family trust administered by executors, which would go to his three children, Katherine Jackson, and several charities. The estate, according to his will, consists of "non-cash, non-liquid assets" and Jackson's portion of the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalogue of music royalty rights, including to those of songs by The Beatles.

The co-executors of Jackson's will are John Branca, his attorney, and John McClain, music executive and family friend.

In a statement, Mr Branca and Mr McClain said: "The most important element of Michael's will is his unwavering desire that his mother, Katherine, become the legal guardian for his three children.

"As we work to carry out Michael's instructions to safeguard both the future of his children as well as the remarkable legacy he left us as an artist, we ask that all matters involving his estate be handled with the dignity and the respect that Michael and his family deserve."

Michael Jackson, international music icon, celebrity sensation, and known as the "King of Pop", died of cardiac arrest on June 25, 2009.

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Mandy Cirtas (not verified)

at 11:42 on July 1st, 2009

He was so evil! Trying to keep children from their own mother, even when he'd died. What a total monster!

hello kitty! (not verified)

at 07:57 on July 3rd, 2009

leave custody to katherine. why does all of a sudden debbie rowe wants custody? leave custody to jacksons mother thank you and goodnight!! oh and for all of you dumb a--es who are saying michael was a child molester and drug addict he wasn't the media is so cruel to celebrities all those people wanted was money off of michael may god have mercy on their souls michaels mother is a good mother his dad is full of sh-t til this very day may god have mercy on his soul also. michael was a good man he was treated badly by his father and the media, and made him look like a bad peson and he wasnt. media cant help that there can be genuinly nice and warm hearted people in this world, i guess everyone has to be bad. the media is always in these stars business. now rihanna may be convicted of illegally without a permit for tattooing a person, it was caught on camera by paperazzi people cant mind their own business, stars cant live their life withought messing up and getting tore down by the media. joe jackson is a faggot i hated that stupid interview he doesn't care his son died yup he thought he was getting a peice of the pie haha he didn't dumb ass
anybody but debbie rowe should have custody only the people that were in the kids life only the people the kids know more. debbie basically sold her children she never seen them since they were born and all of a sudden she wants to be in their life. they're better off with someone they know.

Jhoan (not verified)

at 23:36 on July 6th, 2009

Mandy Jackson is not evil... Rowe deserve it even she's the biological mother of the kids still she dont deserve to be a guardian. let me remind you she accepted millions form jackson and surrender the rights of being a mother... Rowe abondoned her kids for money, now tell me what right she have to fight for her kids??? you know why she's doing this not because she love her childrens but because of the MONEY....

Mandy before you make a wrong judgement try to analyze and think if ROWE deserve to be a guardian of 2 jacksons!!! let me ask you, If you are a mother will you sacrifice your right as a mother over MONEY????

Jackson made a right decision when she ommited ROWE as Trustee in his will. Jacksons Mother deserve to be a guardian of JM kids and controller of his all his asset because never she leave jackson, she stood by his side as a mother and she support Jackson till his death.

screamin'kid (not verified)

at 08:27 on July 11th, 2009

You are a complete moron, where do you base this fact that he is evil? The media? I don't even feel sorry for you for believing or making that statement. Keep living your life listening to FOX news or CNN or what ever the hell it is you listen to or watch, it just reminds us intelligent, independently thinking people that there are still morons among us. Have you even bothered researching the court papers personally? I doubt it, your one line statement says a lot of your intelligence and mentality. What is your real name? Beavis or Butt Head?

housewife (not verified)

at 20:19 on July 1st, 2009

Michael made a good decision. He was the best judge as to who was capable of true and sincere love for the children. The wold didn't live with Rowe. Michael did. So, he knew best. Rowe gave up maternal rights for a large, large sum of money. All she sees in the kids is money and nothing else.

Katherine Jackson, though aged, will be a good guardian who will love the kids with all her heart and will also be comforted by the presence of them.

God Bless Katherine Jackson and Michael's three children.

hello kitty! (not verified)

at 07:56 on July 3rd, 2009

screamin'kid (not verified)

at 08:33 on July 11th, 2009

Not just mercy, he is going to be blessed. All Debbie Rowe is seeing is the $$ that the children will inherit. The funny part is now she is considering taking Blanket too? Where does the greed stop?

JHOAN (not verified)

at 23:45 on July 6th, 2009

ROWE DOESNT HAVE ANY RIGHT FOR HER KIDS AFTER SHE ABONDONED THEM OVER MONEY... ROWE CHOSE MONEY OVER BEING A MOTHER AND NOW SHE WANTS THE CUSTODY OF HER KIDS FOR WHAT??? FOR MONEY??? COME ON JACKSON IS NOT EVIL, IT IS ROWE WHO IS EVIL......

angel69 (not verified)

at 19:00 on July 7th, 2009

i think the kids should stay with his mom.its the right thing to do.the biological mother should stay away from them.she's a cold, heartless monster.for her,it's all about the money;for his mother,she truly loves those kids so much.

artinthewild (not verified)

at 06:33 on July 8th, 2009

This is very interesting and very sad. I use to think that MJ was a pedophile but since I have been watching his life and the way he was - I am doubtful now. I think he was very childlike and he did the things kids did - like sleep overs? As for Debbie Rowe, maybe the kids would find a more stable home with her although I am thinking that if she does try and take custody of the children it is for the money - after all I don't think she can live without the big bucks - I am talking about the 900,000 a year they say she was getting. How will she support her "ranch" - that is one reason I think maybe the kids will be better off with her..there will be a life there where they can experience being real kids...I worry about the older boy.

artinthewild (not verified)

at 06:38 on July 8th, 2009

Sorry, I know it sounds rediculous when I say that the kids will be better off with her so she could support her ranch...I didn't mean it like that. I meant that the kids would have the benefit of living in the country, having horses - doing the things that k ids do without being hounded by the press. I feel that the press destroyed MJ. Perhaps someone should talk to the kids. I know they are young....at least the two older ones and see what they have to say..... Kids are smarter than a lot of people give them credit for.

Audrey Price (not verified)

at 03:46 on August 10th, 2009

I think that Debbie Rowe genuinely wants the best for MJ's children. If she has offered to look after Blanket as well as her own two children it shows what a big heart she has. She gave up her children for love - as a gift to MJ as she knew he dearly wanted to be a father. And did anyone stop to think that maybe he was the selfish one by settling with cash and cutting her out of their lives? I believe the children should evaluate the idea of having their remaining parent in their lives and decide if they want their real mum in their lives as the children may again experience beavement at an early age, conisdering the ages of their grandparents. We all want the best for these beautiful children.