Michael Jackson's mother granted guardianship of his children, allowance [Updated]

Michael Jackson's mother was granted permanent guardianship this morning over the singer's three children.

Katherine Jackson and Debbie Rowe, the mother of Jackson's two older children, had submitted an agreement with the court in which custody of the children would go to their grandmother.

Katherine Jackson and three of Jackson's siblings were in the courtroom in downtown Los Angeles.

L.A. County Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff ordered a court investigator's report in eight weeks on how the children are being cared for.

[Updated at 10 a.m.: Moving rapidly through a long list of decisions before him for the day's hearing, Beckloff also gave the singer's mother most of the allowance she had requested for herself and the children.

Katherine Jackson will receive the full amount she requested for herself. Beckloff said some of the money for the children appeared excessive, and that they would be receiving 83.5% of what attorneys asked for. The amounts were not disclosed.]

-- Victoria Kim and Harriet Ryan at L.A. County Superior Court

Photo: Katherine Jackson arrives at Los Angeles Superior Court, where she was granted permanent guardianship this morning over the singer's three children. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Carolyn Bongiorno]

Well, you can't argue with 83.5%.

Or, can you?

[Thomas]

What about the biological father of the two older children, Dr. Arnie Klein of Laguna?

[ladylion]

I don't get it. His mother gets an ample allowance, but the Kid's were decreased? Shouldn't most of the money go to the kids anyway? Isn't this backwards? Or am I reading it wrong?

[Lisamaria Maddalena Culbreth]

HALLELUJAH !
Michael's smiling from Heaven.
God Bless Mama Katherine and MIchael's 3 precious angels.

[Bernard]

I don't get why Katherine Jackson needs a tremendous amount of financial suport. Does a 80-year woman needs alot - mortgage, medicine, etc.? Does she have a mortage? It looks if Michael Jackson was solely responsible for supporting his mother and the rest of the family What about Janet?

[Erik self]

To the women who doesn't understand why katherine needs so much money...Micheal isnt here to spend it, it is for his mother and children as he wished and it is none of your business to even speculte - turn on a soap opera if your bored okay>>>

[Felecia]

Michael's mother was getting a monthly allowance from him while he was alive to pay the expenses at the Encino home and for herself. Since his passing that money was cut off pending todays hearing. The reason the judge agreed with the amount her attorneys asked for Katherine was because it was the amount Michael always gave her. The only family that actually live at the Encino house was Katherine, Latoya and sometimes Joe.

[DUCK]

Way to go Jackson Family- I am glad this 1st round worked out in your favor. And for those that think she does not need a large allowance "Just Beat It". You have to remember that the Jackson Family is use to a very high standard of living. Also, it should go to his family and not the people that robbed him all these years. I work in the area of Trust/Estate and it only took me 2 minutes to read the Will and no that John Branca/John McClain scammed Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson as 40 people in his immediate famiily and no one was left in control?? And to put the nail in it, Mr Branca- who also wrote the will- put in a no contest clause to ensure he always has control. I am sure this was not properly explained to Michael because no one would agree to such terms. People need to understand the facts. Because of the way the Will is written, The Jackson family has no control, input on future projects, and no say - no one would want that. And the reason AEG does not want to reveal the contract is because they are lying about the 50 shows- Michael Jackson probably never saw that contract. It is a shame that legends like Michael Jackson and James Brown performed all of these years and in the end were controlled by greedy business partners who have nothing but there pocketbooks in mind. Future artist take note- do not give up control of your empires to business partners and make sure that several family members have some type of control. Fight on Jackson Family- we are behind you!!!!!!!!!!

[joy]

To the people who are arguing against Mrs. Jackson getting what she asked for. If I know one thing, it's that Michael Jackson would ave NEVER denied his mother . He would have, and did, give her the world. Now Joe Jackson? That's another story entirely...

[PAUL ESPINOZA]

By the time the "legalists" get through deciding what to do with the Michael Jackson estate it will have been drained by half of its current worth.

Michael's mother should file a federal civil action against the Superior Court and the presumed "executors" (more like carnivores) to protect her son's childrens' interests.

[knowdalaw]

For the record, Katherine Jackson cannot be named an "Executor" on the Michael Jackson estate because she was named in the "Will" as a beneficiary. No one who is a "Beneficiary" can be named as an "Executor."

Michael Jackson named his executors and he knew they are the best in the business and will know how to make money for his estate. They know what they are doing and the Jackson's need to respect Michael's will.

The Jackson’s need to just stop complaining about everything. They have complained about the doctors…Complained about the media…C complained about the death… Complained about the raising of the children… Complained about the WILL… Please can they just stop? Grief is enough to deal with and no money can bring Michael back.

They have had more than a billion people who were, are and are to come. They have been blessed. They need to stop making the media and the public look bad. None of them would have a red cent, without their fans buying records.

We all should be on the will to get something back.

We are the ones who gave, so they need to give back.

[Kevin Tiplady]

I have just read the comments concerning Michael Jacksons' family and awarding of allowances.
What frightens me is the inability of any of them to spell properly!!

[bkl]

knowdalaw wrote:
'For the record, Katherine Jackson cannot be named an "Executor" on the Michael Jackson estate because she was named in the "Will" as a beneficiary. No one who is a "Beneficiary" can be named as an "Executor."'

Better study more to really learndalaw.

"In general, there is no prohibition on making a beneficiary of the will the executor. There are many instances where this is done as a matter of course. For example, many wills make the surviving spouse the executor and the surviving spouse is invariably a beneficiary of the will."

[Boraxo]

Nice to see it's all about who gets the money, not the precious children. No shocker there.

[joyce]

Duck: You said you read the Will and in 2 minutes you could tell Branca scammed MJ. Read California Probate Law online so you can become more educated prior to posting your comments. The judge has to approve any buying or selling that the Executors initiate. On Katherines petition to administer the estate filed on July 20, she checked the box which "could allow her to take many actions without obtaining court approval."

Felecia: How do you know how much allowance MJ was giving Katherine and how much allowance she was awarded today? Those files are sealed in court and not available to the public.

The contesting clause in Wills are standard procedure when you create one. Also the kids allowance was decreased because Katherine duplicated some of the kids expenses with hers. I'm glad the judge caught that.

Appears that McMillan is recommending a few scamy petitions for Katherine to file. Oh yea, he still gets paid huh???

[Moonbeam]

It wasn't that the kids' allowance was decreased -- from what I read, it seems the judge was just saying that some of the expenses Mrs. Jackson asked for on her list were actually for the kids, and then also appeared on the kids' list of expenses. My impression was that there was just inadvertent duplication of some of the items, that's all.

[aly]

aww, i love michael's kids. they're so adorable and i wish them the best in life. they seem like they'd be happiest with the jackson family and their grandma. it's where they belong. and umm thomas was it ever actually proved that dr. klein is their biological father?

[doreen Holland]

I'm glad the kids will be with Katheryn. Just one thought though as I read the article. When the kids headed downtown for court. Did the dirt bag media shove cameras in their little faces,and microphones, and scare the living daylights out them.?
I'm sure they were thrilled to see the kids out of the house.
Will the media stalk them too? Make them feel bad and call them names like they did to Michael?
I'm so glad the autopsy report has been delayed. It's a high five in the sky to see the media sitting and waiting .. Good,, hope they have to wait another month.. and then when it comes out, I hope it says inconclusive or something to really piss them off.

[k.b.jensen]

40% goes to Mrs.Jackson, 40% goes to his children, so basically Michael Jackson kept 80% of his money in his family, which is exactly how it will be, no matter how much people try to invent things and inject other people.
Michael Jackson left %80 to his family, the children and Mrs.Jackson will never have to worry.

Mrs.Jackson is the absolute best place for his beautiful loving children, they love her.

[carol]

Oh boy, well, hmmmm. Does anyone out there even think or even just stop for one moment that maybe MJ is not really dead? I think everyone now needs to take a look at the other side of the coin. You will be amazed at what you will find. I am a investigator and there are alot of things that are not adding up. They are just not. But back to this side of the coin, the one that Katherine was awarded the money she needed to care for the children, and Michael, OOPS! well as time passes on, you too will see, If you so chose too!

[dee]

to carol the investigator -- things don't add up because he was murdered.