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Who Will Get Custody of MJ Kids: Debbie Row or Katherine Jackson?
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by Tina Kells | June 26, 2009 at 05:00 pm
4910 views | 4 Recommendations | 28 comments
As the shock of the sudden and unexpected death of King of Pop Michael Jackson starts to wear off, questions about what will happen to his kids and his estate are beginning to brew. The Jackson family seems confident that Michael Jackson's kids will stay with them, but mother Debbie Rowe may decide to make a play for custody. So who will get custody of Michael Jackson's kids?
Michael Jackson has three kids: Prince Michael, 21; Paris, 11; and Prince Michael II, aka "Blanket," 7, who have been living with his mother Katherine Jackson since he died. However, Debbie Rowe, who was once married to Michael Jackson, is still their legal mother meaning under California law custody would automatically go to her.
Many Michael Jackson fans may remember that Debbie Rowe lost custody of her children at one point, but she won custody back on appeal. The three children have lived with Michael Jackson with her consent, not because she had no parental rights. When one parent dies custody is automatically transferred to the surviving parent, in this case that is Debbie Rowe.
Even if Michael Jackson had specified a different guardian in his will Debbie Rowe will get custody of the kids if she wants them. For Katherine Jackson to get custody Debbie Rowe would have to voluntarily turn over custody, or the Jackson family would have to take her to court and prove she is an unfit parent.
As things stand now there is no clear answer as to what will happen to Michael Jackson's three children. Debbie Rowe, who remained a close friend and confidant of Michael Jackson's, is in mourning and is confused about what to do next. The Jackson family is also mourning a tremendous loss, a loss his mother Katherine Jackson may be feeling on a level few can understand.
Katherine Jackson is reeling from the loss of her youngest son, something no parent ever expects to endure, and likely finds great comfort in being with his three children. Hopefully the adults in this case will respect one another's pain and acknowledge that the children are already suffering a great loss. A bitter custody battle is the last thing that anybody needs.
Family attorney Brian Oxman has indicated the arrangement with Katherine may be made permanent: "Probably Mrs. Jackson will take care of them, she loves them dearly," Oxman told Radar. But if Rowe decides to make a bid for at least the two children she carried, she has quite a case, too...
Although many reports indicate Rowe legally waived her parental rights over the two kids after her divorce from Jackson, that decision actually was reversed by a judge. Eventually Jackson and Rowe reached a specific agreement of their own: Rowe retained parental rights and got a fat check while Jackson retained custody.
UCLA law professor Grace Blumberg said she also expects Rowe to obtain custody of the elder children, even if Jackson designated another guardian in his will.
Blumberg said the surrogate mother of the youngest child, Prince Michael II, also might come forward to try to obtain custody of that child. If the surrogate mother lived in Europe when the child was born, European laws would apply, Blumberg said. She said many European countries do not recognize surrogate arrangements.
Iris Finsilver, a lawyer who represented Rowe in the custody case with Jackson, told the Associated Press that Rowe was inconsolable over Jackson’s death. The attorney said she had no doubt Rowe would seek custody.
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Debbie ROWE (not verified)
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (28)
at 09:07 on June 27th, 2009
I hope that Debi Rowe takes the children..Michael would not want them with his family.. please don't put the children in the life he grew up in look what it did to him.. Abuse is hard thing to get over deep down we never get over it ..
at 15:12 on June 27th, 2009
I will be getting custody of my 2 children shortly, I still have my parental rights in place, MJ and I simply agreed we would let them live with him.
at 15:34 on June 27th, 2009
But Debbie - it's not so convincing if you are "(not verified)".
at 00:17 on July 7th, 2009
If you're the real Debbie Rowe better if you will stop fighting for the custody of your kids i mean kids of Michael Jackson after all you never be a mother to them, you abondoned them over MONEY and take note its million dollars, so please dont pretend that you want to be a mother to them, you just want the custody of 2 kids bacause of MONEY...
Just leave the kids to MJ mother coz she deserve more to be a guardian than you... Michael Jackson made a right decision to omitted you to be a trustee. after all if you really love your kids you shoudnt accept the money and abondened them.
at 14:41 on July 9th, 2009
Hey Deb, so your e-mail is DebbieRow@aol.com or debbie-row@aol.com? I checked your website and it just said Debbie Row@aol.com.
You know your horoscope available online shows you are a rough and violent person, Very selfish and stubborn. I think you will fight for the money (Michael's kids) so you can spend it on yourself and your man. BTW - lose weight, your man will take you for the dough, but you look like an old cow - sorry, that is the truth.
And one more thing - you claim to love your kids, but in your house you don't have one picture of them. Instead your place is littered with horses pics. And if you still say you love your kids - why did you ask for the custody only after it was revealed Michael cut you off from his will. Apparently you said : "where is my cashier's cheque?" You were very conerned you will not get more cash after MJ's death. So Deb - you divorced your first husband because he was too quiet and didn't make enough money even though he was a nice guy, a teacher. But you didn't want to live in a rented one bedroom appartment for 830$ a month? Hey Deb?
at 14:43 on July 9th, 2009
Hey Deb, so your e-mail is DebbieRow@aol.com or debbie-row@aol.com? I checked your website and it just said Debbie Row@aol.com.
You know your horoscope available online shows you are a rough and violent person, Very selfish and stubborn. I think you will fight for the money (Michael's kids) so you can spend it on yourself and your man. BTW - lose weight, your man will take you for the dough, but you look like an old cow - sorry, that is the truth.
And one more thing - you claim to love your kids, but in your house you don't have one picture of them. Instead your place is littered with horses pics. And if you still say you love your kids - why did you ask for the custody only after it was revealed Michael cut you off from his will. Apparently you said : "where is my cashier's cheque?" You were very conerned you will not get more cash after MJ's death. So Deb - you divorced your first husband because he was too quiet and didn't make enough money even though he was a nice guy, a teacher. But you didn't want to live in a rented one bedroom appartment for 830$ a month? Hey Deb?
at 22:04 on June 27th, 2009
Debbi if that is really you..please hurry up then if you don't take them I hope the real dad steps up I'm so worried for the children
at 09:55 on June 28th, 2009
look at what a bunch of headcases that katherine and joe raised
MJ admitted there was abuse in his childhood.
do we really want to forego the mother to foster a second chance at child abuse for those elder jacksons??
i say go mama rowe- cant be any worse.
hope she gets physical custody while the sickko jacksons fight her in court
at 10:00 on June 28th, 2009
To Tina Kells (who wrote this article). Michael was not the youngest son. Randy is the youngest son, born in 1961.
Personally, I think Janet should take the kids.
at 19:35 on July 10th, 2009
janet gave her daughter to her sister so what she look like getting deb children
at 02:44 on June 29th, 2009
is there a Michael wish who should take care of them? let us wait till we see what was his wish, he knows them the best, and he know his family, so let him decide who should get the children.
at 02:49 on June 29th, 2009
and Debbie Row is not a woman which we can name a mother, ever mother can not and should not that making a child on that or another way is like she do with her animals. Does she ever think about anything else than a money?? She is not a mother she is just a mistake in Michael life which cost him a lot
at 19:43 on July 10th, 2009
mj had to much money deb would not have beat him in court no matter what think about it that's why he did'nt pick a sister to have him a baby cause he know she would have took the money and came back at that but with a lawer sister don't play and he knew that.
at 16:41 on June 29th, 2009
I hope Katherine Jackson gets the children. She's 80 and I'm sure she'll have help from her other children. I think the children could use some solid people in their lives. Katherine Jackson, you don't get much more stable and solid than her. She's a decent woman and didn't have her children for package deal money, etc. Debbie Rowe on the other hand, I don't think she's much. I think she needs to just keep living the way she was before all this happened.
at 22:56 on June 29th, 2009
first off debbie rowe was a surrgate , mj was just dumb to marry her to try an do it right,,, aswell he got smart an did it the correct way got a surrgate,, as mj never said anything bad about his mother, an joe there father live in californis he lives in vegsa, have u noticed jhis mother is filing they just ad parents at time,,,, an who want debbie rowe to raise kids she sold ,, she treated them kids just like the animals she raise are worest shit twice the kids, she fed the animals she only carry the kidsnine months, she no mother and having kids does not man=ke u one an she has said it she as no parental insinct, her dogs and hoarses are her babies=
at 20:09 on July 1st, 2009
You are WRONG....Debbie Row is the biological mother. That is a rumor. Have you seen those children.......they look just like her.
at 14:08 on July 3rd, 2009
They kids dont want to be with her they said they wanted to be with their grandmother. Debbie's thinking of the money, she gave them up, that was the agreement and she opted for the money. She can fight for custody, what's the point in putting the children where they dont want to be. She does not have a bond with them. She's unsuitable and rough, let her do what she does best hanging out on her farm.
at 18:28 on July 4th, 2009
I think The grandmother should have custody....Debbie if you really cared about those kids then they should have been with you. You only want the kids for money. thats probably why micheal left you out his will because he knew the type of person you was.. A GOLD DIGGER..and its ashamed your using the kids as a source of your income
at 19:00 on July 5th, 2009
In June 1968 I joined the US Army with Debbie Rowe, I was curious if it was her? Do you know what town and state she is from?
at 14:02 on July 9th, 2009
Debbie Row was born in 1958 so she was 10 years old in 1968 - did you join army at 10 years of age? And if you want to find out more just write to Debbie at : debbie_row@aol.com and check her website - www.painteddesertranch.com
at 12:46 on July 6th, 2009
I don't think a mother that once gave up(sold) her children, should ever get custody.
at 00:36 on July 7th, 2009
OK i am very sad about Micheal dieing my prays go out to his children & family .who was very great singer and dancer ,,,,he had a great heart he help lots of people in the world ...so i see that his children need to be taking of care and not spread from each other ,,,,was family four now three lift ..if they take them apart what would that hurt them more the children should stay with Jackson's family...Debbie Row she gave them to Micheal .they know (Jackson's) she said she gave to him (Micheal ) forgot them never heard her about her only when she sold them and try fixes what she did....so leave them with Jackson's family
God Bless the Children and Jackson family
Pray are with all of yous all ...........
at 01:49 on July 8th, 2009
we my husband are very sad what happend to mj and our condolence to his family.for us why this peoples can"t wait until the right age of the children to whom they like to go.at this momment let them in jackson family so that he has rest and peace.
at 13:11 on July 8th, 2009
First I want to Thank the family for letting all of the world be apart of the memorial for Micheal. As far as the kids, they need to have a stable place to live and where they are confortable. I believe MJ mother and family is where the kids need to stay. Let the kids have a place of security, Janet and others are there for the kids. NO need to disrupt their lives and try to get use to another life with Debbie. These kids are not like regular kids or have they been raised as such. They are in a different class and need to stay there. God Bless
at 14:29 on July 9th, 2009
Debbie Row has a boyfriend and needs money for a lazy life she got used to. Her cash cow - MJ just died and made sure she was cut off from the his will. No wonder she is mad like hell and seeks revenge. She will sacrifice anyone without batting an eyelash, especially the children as she did twice before.
This rough and crude woman (check out her lashing out at papparrazi - there is a rage to behold) should stay on her ranch and tend horses not kids. Can you imagine this biker with a little delicate Blanket? I think this poor boy would die at the first sight of this burly scary Deb.
at 15:16 on July 14th, 2009
I am so tired of people slamming debbie row, she has a point, she did not sell her children, she left them with they're father. If a man did this it would not even be an issue.
at 11:35 on July 20th, 2009
Well Deby Row Wants the Money not the Kids well maybe she can get the kids and money and stop fighting and get it over with...
at 05:14 on September 4th, 2009
please let the children live with their mom