The will Michael Jackson filed in 2002 is now part of public record. From MTV. In it, he appoints his mother Katharine as guardian, and long-time mentor Diana Ross as backup. He specifically omits his ex-wife Debbie Rowe from the will. Jackson appointed his long-time lawyers as co-executors. (read more at AP).
Plus, the family has announced there will be no public memorial at Neverland tomorrow as previously reported.
I would expect the family to contest the will.
LOS ANGELES ‘“ Michael Jackson’s 7-year-old will was filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles court, giving his entire estate to a family trust while making his mother the guardian of his children and cutting out his former wife Debbie Rowe. The will, dated July 7, 2002, estimated his estate at that time at more than $500 million.
It names his mother, Katherine Jackson, as a beneficiary of the trust and the guardian of Jackson’s children, who are also named as beneficiaries of the trust.
It also names entertainer Diana Ross as a successor guardian for the children and their estates if something happens to Katherine Jackson.
Jackson’s longtime lawyer John Branca and John McClain, a music executive and a family friend, are named in the will as co-executors.
The executors moved quickly to take control of all of Michael Jackson’s property, going to court Wednesday to challenge a previous ruling by the judge that gave Katherine Jackson control of 2,000 items from Neverland.
LVanna says
‘He really never came to terms with the fact the boys fired him as their manager, also in 1984.’
Regardless, perhaps there was still a father/son love between Joe and Michael and that Michael actually did care for his father? See this pic from 2005 and notice their hands:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7181495/
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He has said in an Oprah interview that he loves his father and forgives him. He also said that he doesn’t know him. Well I don’t blame him for not knowing him. I mean his father wanted him to call him Joseph. So there is a little disconnect there.
Has anybody seen private home movies of Michael? I never seen it. They are so funny! Especially when he says Macaulay Culkin is a reckless driver! ROFL! I laughed so hard I had tears.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jck_nM_1wPg
Watch all of it and when you are done watch more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6IzRz1pD6M
I think that no matter what jerks parents are, they are still your parents. In light of Joe Jackson, though he was a tyrant and an idiot, I am sure MJ still loved him. He may have not liked him, but he was his father.
It is customary to ask potential guardians if they would consider being guardians prior to stating so in a will. Generally, you don’t spring that on someone after the fact because if they can’t or won’t then what? The executor is the individual who carries out the instructions in your will. This is not an honorary role. The role of an executor of a will gathers all your assets; prepares an inventory for the probate court: completes paperwork to change the title of assets from the decedent to the estate; files periodic reports to the probate court; pays all your debts and taxes; defends your estate against any lawsuits or other difficulties; and distributes your assets as you direct in your will. The executor is also paid to do this out of the assets.
After all the debts are paid and it’s determined how much $$ is left, could be a reason for Debbie to pursue her rights as the biological mother. Money talks and she would gain financially to ensure that the children are brought up in the manner and style they have become accustomer to. Though Debbie Rowe is an ex-wife and gave up her rights to the children, she could say she was co-erced and did not fully comprehend the implications, or was in a financial bind and felt desperate so she felt she had no choice but to consent to giving up her rights to her biological kids. It’s also a case of the power of the rich with their fancy lawyers and not having the means to fight that. The primary concern for the court is the welfare of minor children. A case could be made that MJ got screwed up being brought up at that home shared by Katherine & Joe and that Katherine didn’t protect her children from Joe and considering that Katherine & Joe are not divorced could also come into play. The court considers biological parents. How many times couples “hire” surrogates or go through the adoption process and then the mother changes her mind even after the fact, and the child is returned to the biological mother. The only reason that MJ married her is that he, being the husband, could state his claim to children born during the marriage. The biggest plus for her is that MJ was not their biological father. I bet an argument can be made that she was so desperate for money and/or didn’t understand the implications, etc., would weight heavily on the court. The court might look at that fact to determine the best interests of minor children considering that MJ got so “weird” and a case can be made that he really wasn’t of sound mind when he wrote that will. That’s a big factor when writing a will – the “sound mind” thing. It could still be a factor though. Wills are not iron clad. There is no doubt that MJ was weird that’s for sure. The biggest factor against Katherine if Rowe contests, is that she is not their biological grandmother.
I am totally perplexed about all this MJ stuff. People seem to be putting him on a pedestal and excusing his behavior and that it’s okay because he contributed so much to the music world as if that’s so important in the big scheme of things. All this will stuff, the memorial and whatnot. Michael was Wacko Jacko through and through. People are forgetting that he was sued for child molestation. It was a lawsuit only and nothing more. Yes, he was acquited but he paid a huge sum of money to “settle.” Innocent people who are acquited in a lawsuit do not settle. That’s the whole point in a lawsuit. You win, you don’t pay (except gobs to your “team” of crack lawyers, which he had. What he and his lawyers feared was that even though he could win in a lawsuit that they could still go to civil trial (versus criminal trial) and that’s a whole different ball of wax and different rules apply. I have no doubt that the jurors didn’t feel they could convict him, feared the aftermath of possible riots and remembering the circus of O.J. Simpson; however OJ was acquited, he did go to civil court and was found guilty. This is what Michael’s lawyers feared the most and therefore suggested that Michael settle and that stipulation would be that he could not be further persued in civil court. I also have no doubt he is guity of improper conduct with children. Sleeping with little boys, giving them “Jesus juice” and the strange & secret goings on at Neverland is clear to me he was not of sound mind & deeply disturbed. Now he’s a saint.