Lawyers for Michael Jackson's parents evaluating 2002 will

Legal advisers for Michael Jackson’s parents are evaluating a 2002 will that surfaced recently in the possession of a longtime associate of the performer, their lead attorney said today.

“I just saw the will for the first time this morning. We are in the process of reviewing it. We did not see it prior to the filing. We wish we had known about it earlier,” said attorney L. Londell McMillan.

In court papers filed Monday seeking temporary control of Jackson's estate, Katherine Jackson’s lawyers checked a box indicating that the singer died without a will, but they also acknowledged in the filings reports of at least one other will.

“It was important for Mrs. Jackson to proactively take legal action and protect the well-being of the children and the personal property and belongings” of her son, McMillan said.

The July 2002 will that was apparently in the possession of John Branca, an entertainment attorney whose relationship with Jackson dates back to 1980, named his 79-year-old mother as guardian of his three children and appointed as executors Branca and John McClain, a music executive whom knew Jackson since the age of 10, a source familiar with the document said.

McMillan declined to comment on a Wall Street Journal story that said the will split Jackson’s assets among his mother, children and one or more charities. The lawyer said it was “a good thing” and “part of the process” for those who had worked with the performer to produce documents related to his estate.

“Mr. Jackson had a series of lawyers over time, and part of our challenge is to make contact with each and every one of those advisers to review their files,” he said.

McMillan said he represented Jackson in the 3 1/2 years leading up to his death. Branca stopped working with Jackson in 2006 in a move he later blamed on the presence in the singer’s inner circle of “people who really didn’t have his best interests at heart.” He reportedly returned to Jackson’s team a week before he died.

McMillan said the entertainer never told him he had rehired Branca, but said, “It’s possible.”

-- Harriet Ryan

Comments

[GABY]

SORRY BUT I CAN´T BELIEVE MICHAEL IS DEAD. I HAVE A HUGE QUESTIONS FOR YOU , WHAT IS THE PENALTY FOR THE CHILD AND HIS FATHER WHO ACCUSED MICHAEL TO ABUSE THE CHILD AND NOW HE SAID WAS NOT TRUE?? I HOPE THEY PAY FOR SUCH LIE, PLEASE FOR MICHAEL ATTORNEY DO SOMETHING FOR MICHAEL´S KIDS, AND FOR THE FANS, THEY HAVE TO PAY EACH DAY MICHAEL PAIN. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. THANKS, MY BEST WISH FOR HIS MOTHER AND HIS CHILDREN AND HIS SIBILING WHO NEVER SAID BAD THINGS. NO FOR THE TOYA!! AND HIS HORRIBLE FATHER!! MICHAEL WE LOVE EVER!!!!

[Madeleine]

Why didn't lawyer John Branca come forward sooner??? The family has probably been tearing up the house and calling scores of lawyers trying to find out if MJ had a will. Also, Katherine would not have had to go to court to file to be the executor of the estate.

Branca should have contacted MJ's family Thursday or, at the latest, Friday. What possible reason could he have for waiting this long? Frankly, his delay makes me suspicious that the will is valid. Maybe he needed the time to create it.

[oceangal]

Hmm, "a music executive whom knew Jackson." Don't you have copy editors?

[Phil]

John Branca is well respected in the music industry.

If he says he has a Michaels last will in his office, I believe him.

[cut the mess now]

You white folks need to stop talking about Michael's father beating him. It is over now. Some of you white folks needed your butts whooped a little. We live differently. We do not kill our families. Even the kids who got beat when they were little do not grow up to kill their parents. If your money acts funny you want to kill everybody. WHITE FOLKS NEED TO GET OFF MICHAEL JACKSON AND HIS FAMILY.

[professor darkshade]

Is MJ and Rowe the biological parents of the two children, is Mike the bio parent of all 3 children? Is there a public record of marriage of Rowe and Jackson? Is Joe Jackson a fit parent or guardian? Does he live in the state of California? Is Katherine too old to be a fit gurardian given her age? Would one of the children of Katherine Jackson be a better parent/guardian than she in the best interest of the children given her age of almost 80 years?

[vic]

Ok, he is dead and gone now, get over it. may he RIP and may all you hanger on's get a life....

[JimBob]

Boy, this is really bringing the weevils out of the woodwork, isn't it?

[hunkerdown]

Maybe he needed time to get a notarized photocopy...