Lawyer aims to make sure Michael Jackson's mom has custody of superstar's children

The attorney for the Jackson family said he would go to court in an effort to make sure Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine, retains custody of his three children.

Attorney L. Londell McMillan said the family believes the children should be raised by their grandmother, whom he said was "providing a loving and stable environment for the children."

"They have a long-term and loving relationship with their grandmother," McMillan told NBC News. 

"She has custody, and I guess there [isn't anyone] who thinks there is anyone better," the attorney said. 

Some legal experts have said that Debbie Rowe, the biological mother of two of Jackson's three children, would have a strong case for custody. McMillan said she did not believe Rowe had contacted the family seeking custody, adding he didn't believe Rowe would want to "uproot the best interests of these children."

The announcement that Katherine Jackson would seek custody of the children -- Prince Michael Jr., 12; Paris Michael Katherine, 11; and Prince Michael II, 7 -- has the potential to become its own complex legal case. 

Given Jackson's unusual custody arrangements negotiated with Rowe over his two oldest children, it would seem likely that his wishes for their care following his death would have been written and notarized at the time of the agreement, family-law experts said.

However, experts said that if someone other than the children's biological mother were designated for custody, Rowe would have a good chance of challenging the arrangements, as her waiving of parental rights probably would be deemed illegal.

Rowe sued Jackson over the custody agreement and won an appeals-court verdict in 2006 but settled out of court on undisclosed terms. Jackson's youngest child, Prince Michael II, was born of a surrogate whose identity hasn't been made public.

The surrogate's custody petition, if she were to make one, wouldn't have the same power as Rowe's unless she were proved to have been the genetic mother as well.

-- Shelby Grad

Comments

[janecolby]

I hope the Court takes into consideration the ages and wishes of these children. If their biological mother has not had an interest in them in the last ten years, she would be a total stranger, regardless of what her legal rights must be. To break up the children when their lives are already shattered would do more harm than good in my view.

[juney]

It would be calamitous for these children to be placed with Debbie Rowe. She would just sell them to the highest bidder. Michael paid her off 2X and she was just fine with that or she would have sought at least shared custody both times. Who accepts money in lieu of a life raising her own children? She knows the children are better off with the Jackson family; let's hope and pray some "brilliant legal mind" doesn't convince a judge otherwise.

[Lem Utu]

Great idea, give the kids to the two people who screwed up Michael to begin with. Wolves could do better.

[Joanne]

I believe the lawyer is doing a swell job if he is thnking of the best interests of the child, and giving custody to Katherine wthout Joe in their life which Katherine is not wth him. I feel it is a great idea, Im sure if all the kids were asked who they wanted to go wth they wld say Katherine. Giving to Debbie Rowe I feel wld be the biggest mistake anyone made, for I believe she just wnts thm for money reasons, didnt wnt or wld of fought harder whn they were little. They also dont knw Debbie Rowe as much as they do Katherine and i feel she wld be alot better person for the kids. I feel sme of the thngs they r saying abt the Jackson mother is ridiculis , alot of lies.