Michael Jackson's nephew TJ to permanently share guardianship of singer's children

Michael Jackson's nephew TJ to permanently share guardianship of singer's children - They were placed under his temporary custody following the disappearance of his grandmother last month.

And now a judge has ruled Michael Jackson's nephew TJ should permanently share guardianship responsibilities for the Prince of Pop's three children.

The decision came despite a last-minute effort by some relatives to delay it.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff named the 34-year-old, who is the son of the pop icon's elder brother Tito, as the children's co-guardian and he will now share responsibilities for raising the siblings.

Guardian: TJ Jackson was given co-guardianship duties for his uncle Michael's children today

It means he will now have a large role in the lives of the star's children Prince, 15, Paris 14 and 10-year-old Blanket.

It came despite some last minute court drama, that saw cousin Debra Jackson and her son Anthony pleading with the adjudicator to delay his ruling, saying they were concerned family matriarch Katherine was being coerced.

The pair said they had been ostracised from the family and that the children may not be as excited about TJ Jackson's appointment as has been presented to the judge.

New arrangement: Blanket, Paris and Prince have all given consent to the setup

The judge made the ruling after considering a letter submitted by singer Diana Ross, who was named in Michael Jackson's will as a potential guardian, and a letter presented by cousins of the singer who sought a delay in the appointment.

But Beckloff noted that all three children have said they consent to the co-guardianship, and that an independent investigation he ordered showed they 'have a very strong, loving relationship with TJ Jackson.'

He urged TJ Jackson to consider allowing the cousins to visit the family, but said there was no reason to delay.

The appointment means that Katherine and TJ Jackson will share responsibilities for raising the children.

Sharing the load: The Prince of Pop's mother Katherine had been sole guardian but now she will another pair of hands

If one of them is no longer able to serve, the other would become the children's sole guardian.

Debra and Anthony Jackson declined to speak with reporters after the hearing, merely confirming their names and relationship to the family.

Letter: Diana Ross also gave testimony as she had been named in the singer's will as another potential guardian

Their letter and one submitted by Diana Ross were not filed with the court and will not be made public, court officials said.

Katherine Jackson's attorney, Sandra Ribera, disputed their claims that her client is being improperly influenced.

She said: 'Mrs. Jackson is well informed. Mrs. Jackson is a strong woman who cannot be influenced by anyone when it comes to decisions about these children.'

TJ was appointed a temporary guardian last month when Katherine Jackson was incommunicado during a stay at an Arizona spa with relatives.

Beckloff has said Katherine Jackson is doing a great job raising Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson, but noted that having a co-guardian will allow for continuity in their lives if she is no longer able to serve.

TJ Jackson was a relative unknown to the public before the recent rift in the family.

He performs in a band called 3T along with his brothers and was close to his uncle, Michael, before the pop star died in June 2009 at age 50.

TJ Jackson is a cousin of the children and has remained close to them in the years since the singer's death.

Wednesday's hearing had been expected to be a legal formality and although Beckloff made time to hear the cousins' grievances, the judge didn't waver in his view that the co-guardianship arrangement was appropriate.

He noted that it is frequently employed in other cases.

The mother of the two eldest children, Deborah Rowe, has indicated she is comfortable with the arrangement. ( dailymail.co.uk )

READ MORE - Michael Jackson's nephew TJ to permanently share guardianship of singer's children

Katherine Jackson apparently back home

Katherine Jackson apparently back home — Katherine Jackson is apparently back home, reuniting with Michael Jackson's children after a judge temporarily took away her guardianship because of her days-long absence from them.

Paris Jackson tweeted early Thursday morning: "grandma's here! (hash)thankyougod." Katherine Jackson's son Marlon also posted a note on Twitter saying his mother had returned, adding she looked and sounded great.

FILE - This Jan. 26, 2012 file photo shows, from left, Prince Jackson, Blanket Jackson and Paris Jackson after a hand and footprint ceremony honoring their father musician Michael Jackson in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. The executors of Michael Jackson's estate say they are concerned about the welfare of the singer's mother and his three children. In a letter posted on fan sites Tuesday, July 24, executors John Branca and John McClain says they are doing what they can to protect them from “undue influences, bullying, greed, and other unfortunate circumstances.” The letter came hours after sheriff's deputies responded for a family disturbance at the hilltop home where Katherine Jackson and her three grandchildren live. No arrests were made, but there is an active battery investigation. Katherine Jackson was reported missing over the weekend, but is with relatives in Arizona. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

On Wednesday, a judge removed Katherine Jackson as guardian temporarily and named her grandson Tito Joe "TJ" Jackson as temporary caretaker of the late legend's three minor children amid a bitter family dispute over Michael Jackson's estate.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff issued the ruling because Katherine Jackson was in Arizona and hadn't spoken with the children in several days. TJ Jackson now has the ability to control the hilltop home where the children live and to take on other supervision duties.

Katherine Jackson told ABC News that the court ruling was "based on a bunch of lies."

"I am devastated that while I've been away, that my children, my grandchildren, have been taken away from me, and I'm coming home to see about that, also," she said reading from a prepared statement.

She denied the suggestion made in court and in court filings to support TJ Jackson's appointment that she was being held against her will.

"I am here today to let everybody know that I am fine and I am here with my children, and my children would never do a thing to me like that, holding me against my will," she said while her children Randy, Janet and Rebbie were seated next to her. "It's very stupid for people to think that."

But on Thursday, Michael Jackson's son Prince posted a photo of what he said was a group text message involving Rebbie and Janet in which he demanded contact with his grandmother and Janet allegedly responded: "Please don't let them."

"As long as I can remember my dad repeatedly warned me of certain people and their ways," Prince Michael tweeted. "Although I am happy my grandma was returned, after speaking with her I realize how misguided and how badly she was lied to. I'm really angry and hurt."

Beckloff said there was no evidence that Katherine Jackson had done anything wrong, but instead it appeared she was being prevented from fulfilling her role as guardian through the "intentional acts of third parties." He didn't elaborate but made the decision after reading court filings in which TJ Jackson expressed concern that Katherine Jackson was being prevented from returning.

He cited a Monday incident in which Janet, Randy and Jermaine Jackson arrived at the children's home and told them they could speak with their grandmother but had to leave with them.

"This was odd and disturbing to me and (the children) and heightened our concern that our grandmother was being prohibited from returning home," TJ Jackson wrote in a sworn statement. The incident turned into a confrontation between two male adults at the house and sheriff's officials say it remains an ongoing battery investigation.

Beckloff listened as attorneys described Katherine Jackson's demeanor as unusual on phone calls placed to the children hours before the hearing.

TJ Jackson's attorney Charles Shultz also revealed in court filings that the children were forced to miss school Wednesday because of concerns about their security.

Beckloff ruled the Jackson children could not leave California without court approval.

Katherine Jackson's attorney Perry Sanders Jr. said after the hearing that he spoke with his client as she was driving back to Los Angeles from Tucson, Ariz., where she had been since July 15.

"She sounded absolutely fine, lucid and her normal self," he said.

Sanders plans to ask the court to reinstate Katherine Jackson as guardian of the children when she is back in Los Angeles. He was looking forward to meeting with her in person on Thursday.

The public battle was revealed early Sunday after a relative reported Katherine Jackson missing, but she was later located safely with other family members in Arizona.

Jermaine Jackson has said his mother was following doctor's orders to cut off communications with the children, who range in age from 10 to 15. He didn't provide further details.

In addition to concerns about the safety of Jackson's children, some of Michael Jackson's siblings have recently called on the executors of his estate to resign.

Randy Jackson appeared Tuesday on Al Sharpton's MSNBC show PoliticsNation and said he believes his brother's will is a fake and that the executors have engaged in criminal activity.

The estate, which recently reported it saw $475 million in gross earnings since Jackson's death in June 2009, has denied wrongdoing and called the accusations "false and defamatory."

Beckloff, who also oversees financial issues affecting Jackson's estate, was initially reluctant to appoint a temporary guardian but changed his mind after hearing from several attorneys who expressed concern about the family's problems.

He made the ruling after hearing TJ Jackson's description of a "strange" conversation he had with Katherine Jackson on Tuesday evening.

"I've never heard my grandmother talk like that," he said reluctantly. "In every way. The sound in her voice. The pauses."

He said some of her speech sounded slurred and she used words that made him wonder if she was speaking in code.

Her son Marlon echoed those concerns on Twitter, complaining that siblings Janet, Randy and Jermaine were keeping her from him.

The children's guardian ad litem, Margaret Lodise, said she spoke with the children and the two oldest, Prince and Paris, supported the appointment of a temporary guardian. Lodise did not ask the youngest son, 10-year-old Blanket, for his views.

Lodise is responsible for overseeing the children's interests in the estate of their father.

Schultz said TJ Jackson didn't want to replace Katherine Jackson as permanent guardian. Still, the judge noted that TJ Jackson would have to petition to become the permanent guardian within 48 hours and added that such a petition might not be heard if Katherine Jackson re-emerges.

Sanders said he would fight any move to have her permanently replaced.

He said he met with Randy and Janet Jackson in Tucson, Ariz., on Tuesday, but he was not allowed to see his client. He said he still hoped the recent events were a misunderstanding, but he described them as "chaos." ( Associated Press )

READ MORE - Katherine Jackson apparently back home

Paris Jackson Debuts Trendy New Hairstyle

Paris Jackson Debuts Trendy New Hairstyle - Like most teenagers out there, the late Michael Jackson's daughter Paris has finally succumbed to the temptation to experiment with her hair.

But don't worry. She hasn't done anything drastic...no crazy colors, no extreme cut. In fact, Paris actually shows remarkable restraint with her style choice.

Following in the footsteps of other young beauties such as Taylor Swift and Zooey Deschanel, she's decided to add a trendy-but-tasteful fringe of blunt bangs to her long locks.

Paris Jackson (photo: AKM-GSI)

The new hairstyle--currently very hot among starlets of all ages, and spotted on Paris over the weekend in Los Angeles--is flattering on the 14-year-old, framing her famously vivid eyes.

Monday marked the third anniversary of Michael Jackson's death. Paris Jackson sat down with Oprah Winfrey earlier this month to discuss her childhood with a megastar father, as well as how she and her family are coping with their loss. ( yahoo.com )

READ MORE - Paris Jackson Debuts Trendy New Hairstyle

Michael Jackson's Kids Talk About Him 'All The Time'

Michael Jackson's Kids Talk About Him 'All The Time' - Even in death, Michael Jackson is still a major presence in his children's lives.

"They are around their father 24 hours a day," Michael's brother, Jackie Jackson, told PEOPLE recently. "They have pictures in the bedroom. They talk about him all the time. They ask me stories about him. They want to know more about him."

The pop star's three kids – Prince, Paris and Prince Michael, aka Blanket – are "doing really well," Jackie said, adding that they are interested in getting into the entertainment business. Prince wants to be a director, while Paris wants to be an actress.

Blanket, Paris and Prince Jackson

"I told the kids, 'You better get busy because when we were your age we were selling out concerts,' " Jackie joked, referring to the famed Jackson 5 era.

The children have embraced that era of their father's life, with Prince even donning a Jackson 5 shirt to a recent Los Angeles Lakers game he attended with Jackie. The black shirt is a part of the J5 collection that Jackson’s brothers launched.

"We had thousands of photos that had never really been seen and we wanted to make use of them," Jackie said at the MAGIC fashion convention in Las Vegas.

The clothing line, in its second season, uses images of the famed band and puts them on t-shirts, tank tops and jackets. Michael's children especially love the shirts, said Jackie.

"They like to see us as little kids," he said. "We were the same age they are and we were doing our thing."

See what other readers have to say about this story – or leave a comment of your own ( .people.com )

READ MORE - Michael Jackson's Kids Talk About Him 'All The Time'

After years of being hidden away, Michael Jackson's children reveal they want to be famous just like dad

After years of being hidden away, Michael Jackson's children reveal they want to be famous just like dad - Michael Jackson tried desperately to keep them out of the spotlight, but now his eldest children have revealed they hope to follow his famous footsteps.

In their first interview since the King of Pop's death, Paris, 12, and Prince Michael, 13, both told Oprah Winfrey they want to eventually join the movie business.

'I'd like to be an actress when I'm older,' said Paris. 'I sometimes do improvs. I used to do them with my dad.

Family day out: Michael Jackson's two oldest children, Prince and Paris headed out to the cinema in Calabasas yesterday with their uncle Jermaine and cousins

So grown up! Prince, 13, and 12-year-old Paris are looking like young adults

Angelic: it seems like only yesterday the two were introduced to the world as little, blonde babies

And Prince Michael said he wanted to 'produce movies and direct.'

At the family's home in Encino, California, Oprah also asked the Jackson children about the masks their father used to make them wear in public.

Paris explained they were told to wear them so people would not recognise them when they weren't out with their father.

Asked whether she appreciated the sentiment, she said: 'I appreciated it. It wasn't always comfortable, but yes.'

Happy and healthy: Michael Jackson's children spoke about their father in glowing terms during today's interview with Oprah

She added: 'He tried to raise us without [us] knowing who he was, but that didn't go so well.'

And Paris and Prince Michael showed just how much they've grown up as they headed to the cinema with their uncle Jermaine yesterday.

Paris looked every bit the young woman in her faded denim jeans, blue T-shirt and cropped jeans jacket, as she and Prince Michael accompanied their cousins, Jermajesty and Jaafar on the trip.

They stopped by the cinema in Calabasas, California to catch a screening of the R-rated movie, Due Date, starring Robert Downey Jr and Zach Galifianakis.

Tribute: Paris Jackson told Oprah Winfrey that her late father was the 'best dad'

Showbiz ambitions: Prince Michael told the talk show host that he wants to produce and direct movies when he's older

It was a film-packed weekend for Michael's two eldest children as they went to the movie theatre on Saturday as well to see their aunt Janet's new movie, For Colored Girls.

In the Oprah interview that aired in full in the U.S. today, Prince, Paris and eight-year-old Blanket seemed happy and well-adjusted.

Paris paid tribute to Michael's abilities as a father, and revealed he was also an excellent cook.

'I kinda felt like no one understands what a good father he was,' she said. 'I'd say he was the best cook ever. He was just a normal dad, except he was the best dad.

'He made the best French toast in the world.'

While living with their grandmother Katherine, the children have been embarking on a much more regular and public life, even going so far as to enrol in a normal school where they will get the chance to mix with other children.

Meanwhile, Prince Michael left the world questioning whether he suffers from the same skin pigmentation disorder as his father.

Masked: While he was alive Michael Jackson made sure that Paris (left) and Prince Michael's faces were always hidden

As he leaned back in his chair during the interview he displayed white patches of skin on the underside of his arms.

Michael's mother had previously told Oprah her son has been desperate to treat his own vitiligo because he did not want to look like 'a spotted cow'.

'I don't know what in the world he did to change that, but he did,' she said.

Prince Michael first fuelled speculation that he could have inherited his father's skin disorder during a family holiday to Hawaii in July.

White patches of skin were clearly visible under the youngster's arms as he relaxed in the hotel pool.

And yesterday more patches of pale skin were visible as he spoke to Oprah. ( dailymail.co.uk )

READ MORE - After years of being hidden away, Michael Jackson's children reveal they want to be famous just like dad

Jackson's kids to Oprah: He was the best dad ever

Jackson's kids to Oprah: He was the best dad ever - More than a year after his passing, Michael Jackson’s parents and children appeared on Monday’s episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” sharing personal memories of the late pop star.

During the pre-taped program, Katherine Jackson spoke on topics ranging from her son’s childhood to what she describes as the worst day of her life, his death on June 25, 2009.

In August, 2009, it was determined that Jackson died from an overdose of the powerful anesthetic Propofol. Mrs. Jackson told Winfrey that she spoke to her son only once about drugs, which he denied using.

“He kept saying, ‘My own mother don’t believe me,’” Mrs. Jackson recalled. “I was telling him I didn’t want to hear one day that he had overdosed because it would break my heart.”

Conrad Murray, who was Jackson's personal physician, is headed back to court in January facing a charge of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death. When asked what she would like to say to Dr. Murray, Mrs. Jackson replied, “Why didn’t he take care of my child? Why did he give that to him?”

As an adolescent, Mrs. Jackson said, Michael thought of himself as “ugly.” "He would say, ‘I’m just so ugly I don’t want to go out there.’ One day he just made up his mind ... he went down and got his nose done,” she recalled.

Mrs. Jackson said she believes her son was addicted to plastic surgery, and was too embarrassed to admit the amount of surgeries he underwent. At one point, she said, Michael’s nose looked “like a toothpick.”

During the course of the interview conducted at the family’s Encino, California home, Joe Jackson weighed in on Michael’s development as well.

“I never beat Michael like the media tried to say,” he said. After Mrs. Jackson revealed that her husband disciplined the children using a strap, Joe Jackson told Winfrey that he doesn’t regret his disciplinary style. “It kept them out of jail and raised them right,” he said.

Michael’s kids, meanwhile, reminisced about their favorite memories with their dad, such as the fact that he was a great cook.

“He tried to raise us without [us] knowing who he was, but that didn’t go too well,” Paris explained to Winfrey. “He was just a normal dad, well, except for he was the best dad ever.”

Since his passing, Mrs. Jackson said, “I think of my son all through the day, all the time. I think of the things he used to do when he was a little boy, the jokes he used to tell. I have a lot of good memories. That’s one thing they can’t take away from me.”

More of her memories can be found in her book, entitled “Never Can Say Goodbye: The Katherine Jackson Story” filled with 150 pages of never-before-seen photos. Mrs. Jackson told Winfrey, “I wanted to do (the book) for his fans and for the people that misunderstood him.” ( marquee.blogs.cnn.com )

READ MORE - Jackson's kids to Oprah: He was the best dad ever

Michael Jackson's parents Joe and Katherine 'to divorce after 60 years of marriage'

Michael Jackson's parents Joe and Katherine 'to divorce after 60 years of marriage' - Michael Jackson's parents are set to divorce after 60 years of marriage, after the King of Pop's mother Katherine tired of her husband Joe's cruel behaviour.

The pair became estranged five years ago, but the family matriarch reportedly decided to file for divorce after Joe, 81, suggested she was to blame for their son's shock death last year.

Mr Jackson, who was accused of abusing Michael as a child, said in June: 'I begged her to go over and stay with him, but she insisted he needed his privacy.'

Split: Joe and Katherine Jackson, pictured supporting their son Michael as he defended child molestation claims, have split after 60 years of marriage

Mrs Jackson retaliated, saying through her spokesperson: 'Joe Jackson's statement and conduct toward Mrs. Jackson are outrageous.'

Referring to the abuse of their children, the spokesperson then said: 'The world also knows who Joe Jackson is and he seems bent on never letting us forget.'

According to the Daily Star, Mrs Jackson considered the attack as the final straw.

'She's been humiliated by him for too long. She's absolutely livid. There's no going back.'

Mourning: The Jacksons attend the funeral of their son Michael after his shock death following a cardiac arrest

The couple became estranged five years ago and live apart.

Mrs Jackson has sole custody of her late son's three children Prince Michael, 13, Paris, 12, and 'Blanket', 8, in Encino, California and Mr Jackson based in Las Vegas.

Despite already being separated Mrs Jackson was said to be reluctant to officially end the marriage, because as a Jehovah's Witness she doesn't believe in divorce.

The couple, parents to nine children including Jackson 5 members Michael, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon, married in November 1949 and have 26 grand children.

Mrs Jackson has sole custody of her son's children Paris, Blanket and Prince Michael

They put on a united front to support Michael during child abuse accusations against him and mourned side-by-side at his funeral after his death in June last year, aged 50.

In 2007, Michael accused his father - who he does not mention in his will - of beating him when he was a child.

'My father would rehearse with a belt in his hand, you couldn't mess up. I would never get spanked during rehearsals or practice - but afterwards was when I got in trouble,' the singer said. ( dailymail.co.uk )

READ MORE - Michael Jackson's parents Joe and Katherine 'to divorce after 60 years of marriage'

Michael Jackson's Love Child Claims Inheritance!

Michael Jackson's love child claims inheritance! - Diana Ross' niece, who claims to be Michael Jackson's illegitimate love child, has moved the court to claim "her part" of pop legend's estate.


Mocienne Petit Jackson, who lives in the Netherlands, has filed documents in Los Angeles County Superior Court asking a judge for permission to conduct a DNA test to prove her paternity claim, celebrity website TMZ.com reported.


The woman alleges she was conceived in 1975 when Jackson reportedly impregnated her mother Barbara, Ross' sister, when he was just 17 years old.


Mocienne also accuses Jackson's mother, Katherine of scheming to "abduct" her when she was nine to preserve the pop superstar's "reputation". The legal documents state her seven kidnappers were later murdered.


Mocienne, who says she has been diagnosed with Vitiligo, the same skin condition Jackson suffered from, explains she's taking court action now so she can "formally claim my part of my father's inheritance".


She is also seeking to claim custody of the pop icon's three children, Prince Michael, Prince Michael II and Paris in a bid to give them a "more normal life".


The kids are presently in the custody of Jackson's mother Katherine. Representatives for the Jackson and Ross families have yet to comment on the allegations. ( indiatimes.com )

READ MORE - Michael Jackson's Love Child Claims Inheritance!

Is Michael Jackson's son suffering from the same skin condition as the King of Pop?

Is Michael Jackson's son suffering from the same skin condition as the King of Pop?. Michael Jackson always maintained he was blighted by a rare skin disease called vitiligo. And it seems his eldest son, Prince Michael may be suffering from the same problem.

The 13-year-old revealed white patches under his arm while on a recent holiday to Hawaii with his siblings Paris, 12 and Prince Michael II, eight.

Discolouration: Prince Michael revealed patches of white skin under his arm while holidaying in Hawaii last week

While there is the possibility it was the result of sun exposure, it appeared more dramatic than peeling skin.

Vitiligo is a hereditary skin condition which discolours the face and body.

Jackson, who died last year at the age of 50, blamed the disease for the gradual lightening of his own skin over the years.

His claim was always met with some scepticism from critics, who accused him of intentionally bleaching his skin.

Like father, like son? There is speculation the 13-year-old, pictured here with sister Paris, is suffering from vitiligo

Now that Prince Michael is showing signs of similar symptoms, some are convinced it is evidence Jackson really WAS the teen's biological parent.

For years the paternity of Jackon's children has been under question because of the difference in skin tone.

But a family source is quoted as telling American tabloid The Globe: 'It proves once and for all that Michael is the father!'

Prince Michael and his sister Paris were born to Debbie Rowe, Michael's wife from 1996 to 1999.

Prince Michael II, also known as Blanket, was born to an unknown surrogate after the divorce.

Skin disease: Michael Jackson blamed the rare condition for the gradual lightening of his own skin over the years ( dailymail.co.uk )

READ MORE - Is Michael Jackson's son suffering from the same skin condition as the King of Pop?

Jackson children just normal kids

Katherine Jackson says she sees his spirit in his three children. They are show business royalty, heirs of the King of Pop. Someday, they will be very rich. But a year after their father Michael Jackson's death, Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson are normal kids full of fun and pranks, devoted to each other and to their grandmother who is their guardian, according to a lawyer who sees them frequently.

They talk about their father and his presence is everywhere in the ranch-style house in the San Fernando Valley where they live. Pictures and memorabilia adorn the walls. The gated compound has additional residences where other members of the family have lived over the years.

Michael Jackson was just 12 when this picture was taken in May 1971, but his career was already stratospheric. Berry Gordy had signed the Jackson 5 to Motown Records in 1968, and Michael and his brothers had already topped the charts with "ABC" and "I'll Be There." It was a bright start for the boy from Gary, Ind. Discuss the life and impact of Michael Jackson in PhotoBlog. (Henry Diltz / Corbis)

"The children are seemingly as normal as normal can be under pretty extraordinary circumstances," says Adam Streisand, the lawyer who represents Katherine Jackson and a frequent visitor to the compound where she lives with the children. He provided an account of life inside their guarded world in an interview with The Associated Press.

The large Jackson family, including eight of Michael's siblings and their families, has been a source of emotional support for the children, who frequently play with their cousins, Streisand says. And over the past year, Michael Jackson's parents, children and siblings have moved on with their lives in a world with his music but without him.

The three youngsters have seen Michael Jackson's final concert movie, "This Is It," but their grandmother, still devastated by the death of her son last June 25, has not watched it.

In an interview with London's Daily Mail, published Sunday, Katherine Jackson said she misses her son every day but sees his spirit in his three children, whom she is raising "a little less strict" than her son would have.

Prince is an aspiring filmmaker

Prince, whose birth name is Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., is the eldest of Michael's children. At 13, he has developed an interest in filmmaking, and his brother, sister and cousins have been starring in their own home movies.

"They have props and sets, and one of them acts as director. They all have roles," says Streisand. Recently, a snippet of film was leaked to YouTube showing Paris and Blanket in what might have been scenes from one of their movies. Katherine Jackson told the Daily Mail that Paris, who has a photo shrine to her father on her wall, wants to be an actress.

The one disturbance that brought social workers to the home, in March, stemmed from the kids' moviemaking, Streisand says. Jermaine's son, Jafar, 13, saw an Internet ad for a stun gun. He bought it by mail, thinking it would be a prop for their movies. When he tried shooting it into a towel, security guards came running. No one was injured.

The children love going to the movies, especially action and fantasy films, and are usually transported by security guards who are also on duty at the family compound 24 hours a day. The Jackson kids are avid students of karate and have made friends at their karate classes.

Since Michael's death, the children have continued the home schooling that had been their routine when he was alive. Streisand says a room has been set aside in a building at the estate and turned into a classroom where a tutor conducts classes. But in the fall, Prince will leave the cloistered realm to go to private school, a choice that was made by him and his grandmother.

"He is ready to branch out and have a more socialized experience," Streisand says.

Blanket ‘looks a lot like his father’

Whether his 12-year-old sister, Paris Michael, will join him is undecided, although in the Daily Mail interview Katherine Jackson suggested they all would. Eight-year-old Blanket, whose given name is Prince Michael Jackson II, is described by Streisand as "totally cute and personable — a very bright little boy who looks a lot like his father."

In a brief interview this week, their uncle, Jackie Jackson, said the children were "very excited about going on vacation." They plan to visit Disney World, the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C., and other sites where "they can learn as well as have a good time."

Since Michael's death, Jackie said the family has continued to have gatherings: Last week, everyone came together for a party at the family home when two of his nephews graduated from high school.

On the anniversary of Michael's death, he said the family will gather for a quiet, private memorial.

As for Katherine Jackson, who recently turned 80, life has become a whirlwind. She is busy overseeing the children's activities, but is also involved in the administration of Michael's estate. Although not an executor, she is kept informed by the estate administrators, John Branca and John McClain, on projects that are undertaken.

"She is energetic and active. Her health is perfect," says Streisand. "She has very clear ideas about what she wants and does not want as to estate matters."

She is also putting out a book, "Never Can Say Goodbye: The Katherine Jackson Archives," filled with photos of her son.

"I want the world to know the real Michael," she told the Daily Mail. "I'd like him to be remembered as the loving person he was."

Streisand says Katherine Jackson has made it clear that she does not want Neverland to be sold, and for the time being, it is not on the market. But the 3,000-acre spread costs millions to maintain and a decision to sell could be reconsidered.

Streisand recently made a statement for Katherine in response to an interview given by her husband, Joe, in which he blamed her for their son's death.

Streisand called the charge "preposterous" and says Katherine was "very hurt" by the statements. Nevertheless, days later, the couple arrived together at a courtroom for a hearing in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, charged with improperly administering a mixture of sedatives, including the anesthetic propofol, in an attempt to get the chronic insomniac to sleep.

Joe lives in Las Vegas but stays at the family compound when he is in California. Other members of the Jackson clan have their own homes. ( The Associated Press )

READ MORE - Jackson children just normal kids

How are Michael Jackson’s kids holding up?

How are Michael Jackson’s kids holding up?. His sister says they’re ‘doing fine’; their godfather says Paris is strongest. Michael Jackson’s three children went through some difficult days after their father’s sudden death 10 months ago, the singer’s eldest sister said Thursday, but now, surrounded by nurturing family members, they are recovering well.

Rebbie Jackson also said there may be some prosecution surprises in store when Dr. Conrad Murray goes on trial for his role in her brother’s death. “There’s an ongoing investigation, so I have to be very careful about what I say. But I think there’s going to be some interesting results for everyone,” she told TODAY’s Matt Lauer in New York.

Michael Jackson’s three children. From left are Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket. Michael Jackson’s eldest sister, Rebbie, said the children went through a difficult time after the singer’s death, but “seem to be doing fine” now.

So far, Murray, Jackson’s personal physician, is the only person charged in the superstar singer’s death. He is accused of involuntary manslaughter for administering a lethal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol to Jackson at the Los Angeles home he was renting.

Rebbie Jackson said she’s been kept abreast of the police investigation. Asked if Murray is the only person implicated, she said, “I think it’s a lot more than that possibly. We’ll find out. I can’t say too much, but it’s interesting what’s going on.”

Earlier, Jeff Rossen of NBC News had reported that Murray will not attempt to strike a plea bargain with prosecutors.

“There’s absolutely not going to be a plea deal here,” former LA. prosecutor Robin Sax told NBC. “Dr. Murray's defense team isn't backing down, and neither are prosecutors. This is going to come down to a battle of the experts. And it's not a slam dunk for either side.”

Kids getting better

While the legal process grinds on, Rebbie said that her brother’s three children, Prince, 13, Paris, 12, and Blanket, 8, are thriving and continuing the process of emotional healing after losing their father.

The children, who grew up in a protective cocoon, continue to be insulated from the world. Rebbie moved in with them and her mother, Katherine Jackson, in Los Angeles for nearly three months after Jackson’s death last June.

She said she continues to see them as often as she can, commuting from her Las Vegas home to their home in Los Angeles.

“They’re with family members,” Rebbie said. “They’re insulated, you might say, and surrounded with a lot of cousins. I think it’s helping them to be stable, but it’s very difficult.”

She said the kids went through a very difficult time in the days and weeks immediately following Jackson’s death.

“It was very difficult. It was very hard,” Rebbie said. “But yet, day by day you could see the progress of family members getting better and dealing with the situation better and feeling more serene about it.”

Now, she said, “They seem to be doing fine.”

Mark Lester, the kids’ godfather and the former child star of the musical “Oliver,” agreed.

“The kids are happy,” Lester told NBC News. “Paris' birthday was earlier this month. They had a big party. They're getting out, going to the cinema. They’re happy. Things are settling down. That’s good.” Lester pointed to Paris as the strongest of the singer’s three children.
While others struggle to cope, Michael Jackson’s career continues to thrive even after the singer’s death. A new deal has been struck to feature his music on a Cirque du Soleil production that will tour the country next year and settle in Las Vegas by 2012.

Reality show

Part of that deal is a prospective reality show, reportedly a cross between “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars.” Winners of the TV competition would join the Cirque du Soleil production.

Rebbie, the first of the 10 Jackson siblings, is also resurrecting her own music career with a concert in Scranton, Pa., this weekend.

Born Maureen Reillette Jackson in 1950, Rebbie defied her father’s wishes when she married Nathaniel Brown at the age of 18 and moved to Kentucky, where she had two daughters, Stacee and Yashi, and a son, Austin.

She made some appearances with the Jacksons, both on stage and on their television show, but didn’t release her first solo album, “Centipede,” until 1984. Michael wrote the title song for her and it reached No. 4 on the R&B charts. The album topped out at 13th place. She released three more albums: “Reaction” in 1986, “R U Tuff Enuff” in 1988, and “Yours Faithfully” in 1998. ( msnbc.msn.com )

READ MORE - How are Michael Jackson’s kids holding up?

How Michael Jackson's Kids Are Coping

How Michael Jackson's Kids Are Coping. While Dr. Conrad Murray's formal charging in the death of Michael Jackson is certain to pose another emotional time for the pop superstar's surviving family members, his three children – Prince Michael I, 12; Paris, 11; and Prince Michael II ("Blanket"), 7 – have been dealing with their grief with the help of a close-knit family and something new to them: a sense of normalcy.

Paris (left) and Prince Jackson

"They're doing great, thanks to the love and support they've gotten," Adam Streisand, an attorney for their grandmother and guardian Katherine Jackson, told PEOPLE in an interview before Murray's surrender.

Seconds longtime family friend Kathy Hilton, "They're getting along and they have an incredible family."

Since their father's death last summer, the children have been living at Katherine's Encino, Calif., estate with cousins and other relatives, growing in maturity and confidence as they play with friends and go on outings – now without wearing masks and free of the chaos that once followed their father.

"With the kids running around the house, laughing, playing, they've given each other a lot of joy," says Streisand.

Seeking a Normal Life

The trio's older cousins, who joined Prince and Paris on stage at the Grammys Jan. 31 when they accepted their father's Lifetime Achievement Award (shy Blanket was deemed "too young" to take the stage that night, says Streisand), have become mentors to Michael's kids, who remain a tight-knit group.

Helping Katherine raise the kids is their nanny Grace Rwaramba, who had stopped working for Michael before his death but returned afterward upon Katherine's request. Some Jackson family members don't support Rwaramba's involvement, but a source says, "Katherine's made it very clear that it's important to her that Grace is around. She knows the kids are more important to her than anything."

Katherine and Rwaramba are working to ensure that Michael's kids lead as normal a life as possible. "Nothing over-the-top happens" at home, says a family source. Instead, there are school lessons (they are tutored at the house), iChatting sessions and family dinners.

The children go to karate lessons, the library and church. And even though Katherine may be strict (Prince and Paris had to go behind her back to attended the New Moon premiere last November, says a source), she is also giving them room to grow. "Katherine really listens to the kids," says Streisand. "She wants to give them a sense of freedom when she can. She wants to encourage them."

Building Confidence

Being normal also means a lot less spectacle. When the children venture out in public, their faces are no longer concealed. "They like not wearing the masks," the family source says of the trio. "It's a different experience for them."

Another source notes that Prince and Paris have become more confident over the past several months. "It would have been hard to imagine them going out in public or showing up at someone's house hanging out and playing video games before [their father died]," says the source. "That had a lot to do with Michael, because every time he showed up there were bodyguards and [chaos]. And now, not so much. It feels much more normal and they've adjusted really well to that."

And yet, their father's influence lives on.

"Talking to Prince is like talking to Michael," says the family source. "He's so smart and mature – way beyond his age." Paris, meanwhile, "wants to be a singer."

Adds grandfather Joe, "I was so proud of my grandchildren [at the Grammys]. But I'm always proud of them." ( people.com )

READ MORE - How Michael Jackson's Kids Are Coping

Michael Jackson Junior Talent

Jackson Junior wows Britain's Got Talent judges, but at four is he being exploited?. He's a little prince among King of Pop Michael Jackson impersonators.

At just four-years-old, Kayim-Ali Jaffer has found himself in the spotlight after wowing Britain's Got Talent judges with a self-taught Michael Jackson dance routine.

The youngster is being described as a 'shoo-in' for the semi-finals of the latest series, having been praised at audition as a 'little genius'.

Mini-pop: Kayim-Ali Jaffer dressed at his idol Michael Jackson, has impressed judges on Britain's Got Talent

However, his inclusion has triggered a fresh row over the exploitation of children in television.

Eyebrows were also raised by cynics over the fact BGT had discovered its youngest ever contestant, just in time for a fresh series in May.

The reality show was last year severely criticised for its treatment of ten-year-old Hollie Steel, who broke down in tears in front of millions of viewers.

Self-taught: Kayim-Ali picked up the dance moves from Jackson's music videos

Kayim-Ali, clad in Jackson's trademark Fedora and a miniature white suit, flaunted his dance moves to the star's 1988 hit Smooth Criminal at the audition in front of Simon Cowell and his fellow judges.

Amanda Holden cooed: 'I just want to give you a cuddle.'

The routine left the crowd at the Hammersmith Apollo standing on their feet in applause.

A member of the audience said: 'Everyone was screaming, but Kayim-Ali was a bit confused and he ran off the stage before the judges had put him through and he had to be pushed back on stage.

'He is a shoo-in to reach the live semifinals, he's extremely talented.'

Children's charities, however, are concerned about the pressure the youngster could be put under.

Claude Knights, director of Kidscape, said: 'He may be talented but you have to remember that this little boy has only been talking for a few years - now he is performing in front of a huge audience and will be seen by millions.

'Unless he wins he is also going to have to deal with rejection. I am not sure it is fair to have someone so young compete like that.

'It seems that the age at which people are appearing on these programmes is getting younger. What next? Two-year-olds on stage and then being voted on or off Britain's Got Talent?'

Impressed: Kayim-Ali performed a routine to Smooth Criminal in front of judges Simon Cowell, left, and Amanda Holden, right, as well as Piers Morgan

Big following: Fans of Britain's Got Talent gather outside the Hammersmith Apollo to try and get a glimpse of the judges

Miss Knights said it would be better to develop a separate children's competition with a lower age limit so the youngest children are better protected.

Kayim-Ali, from Peterborough, appeared at the London audition on Tuesday.

His parents said they were amazed at their talented boy - who stunned them after picking up the dance moves from watching Jackson's music videos.

He was entered into the show by his older sister and brother, who are both dance students.

His father Shan said: 'Everything is completely self-taught, he has had no training and I haven't got any rhythm whatsoever. Me and my wife didn't even know he could dance like that.

'It turned out he had been watching a Michael Jackson DVD over and over again and practising whenever he was on his own.'

His mother Emma added: 'He is unbelievably confident - he has already told us he wants to dance in front of the Queen.'

After last year's series, the Government announced a public consultation into proposals for new safeguards to protect young performers.

The review by the Department for Children, Schools and Families is not related to any particular programme, ministers insisted at the time.

The youngest-ever contestant before Kayim-Ali was Connie Talbot, six, who sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow and came runner-up to Paul Potts in 2007. ( dailymail.co.uk )

READ MORE - Michael Jackson Junior Talent

The Jackson Kids: What Now?

The Jackson Kids: What Now?.I have one nagging Michael Jackson-related issue that just won't let me rest until we talk about it.

Michael Jackson's children, had the singer been alive and able to attend his own memorial service, would have been covered in veils or masks and daughter Paris would never have been allowed near the mic to share her heart-wrenching grief with 31 million viewers (in the U.S. alone).

If the rest of Jackson's life -- his finances, health, career -- were a bit scattered, he was meticulous in one thing -- guarding the privacy of his three children. Until his death on June 25, the peeks we had of Prince Michael (12), Paris (11) and Blanket (7) were rare and, as mentioned above, their faces were often obscured by masks or veils. We never saw them go to school or playing or cavorting with other celeb-spawn -- instead they were most often snapped shopping with dad or ducking into a limo.

Prince Michael II (aka Blanket) clutches a Michael Jackson action figure at Tuesday's Staples Center tribute to his father. (Reuters)

All of that changed when Jackson unexpectedly died last month. The kids -- now in the care of grandmother Katherine Jackson -- have been a regular presence in coverage of the pop star's tangled legacy. And at Tuesday's excessive (and excessively covered) tribute to the fallen star, the children were not only front row, center and easily accessible to photogs, but 11-year-old Paris was allowed to address the crowd, telling the world that "Daddy was the best father you can ever imagine."

But do Jackson's kids now, more than ever, need their privacy? Or is a rapid transition to a more structured, normal life (or as normal as possible given the circumstances) the better option? These children led an extraordinarily sheltered existence and, aside from the trauma of coping with the death of their father and the possibility of a coming custody battle, adjusting to a post-Jackson world could involve a level of culture shock. And should we, the media, keep our distance from the kids until they're old enough to realize the implications of sharing their innermost feelings with the world? ( washingtonpost.com )

READ MORE - The Jackson Kids: What Now?

Katherine Jackson Gets Full Custody of Jackson Children

Katherine Jackson Gets Full Custody of Jackson Children. An agreement has been reached placing Michael Jackson's three children -- Prince Michael (12), Paris (11) and Blanket (7) -- in the care of his mother, 79-year-old Katherine Jackson.

Jackson lawyer L. Londell McMillan broke news of the arrangement on Thursday's CBS "Early Show"; a press release from Jackson's lawyers said the agreement will be presented on Monday to the Los Angeles Superior Court for approval.

The agreement also stipulates that Debbie Rowe, biological mother of Jackson's two eldest children, will have regular visitation accompanied by a child psychologist and that Rowe will not receive any compensation other than the spousal support she has already been receiving.

Prince Michael II (aka Blanket) clutches a Michael Jackson action figure at June's memorial tribute to his father. (Reuters)

"There is no situation better for these children than for them to be raised and reared in the loving care of Mrs. Katherine Jackson," McMillan said on CBS.

Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Andrea Bonior said in a June Celebritology piece that stability is the key to getting the Jackson kids through the loss of their father.

"That most likely means keeping them in the same place where they've lived and trying to keep as many of the same people -- friends, child care providers, and family members -- near them," said Bonior, "along with as much of their daily routine as possible."

Meanwhile, the police continue to look into the circumstances surrounding Jackson's death on June 25. The release of results from the official autopsy was delayed again today by the Los Angeles county coroner's office as the investigation focuses on personal physician Conrad Murray. ( washingtonpost.com )

READ MORE - Katherine Jackson Gets Full Custody of Jackson Children

Jacko Gave Her Baby to Tom Cruise

Jacko Gave Her Baby to Tom Cruise. Woman Claims Jacko Gave Her Baby to Tom Cruise. In addition to the myriad other head scratchers surrounding the the death of Michael Jackson, the one-time pop singer's demise finally provided a platform for a possible schizophrenic to gain national coverage of her fantastic delusions.

On Monday, one Claire Elizabeth Fields Cruise -- a 43-year-old woman who describes herself as the president of the Department of Empowerment --- stepped forward claiming to be the mother of Michael Jackson's three children. Watch her presser outside the L.A. County Courthouse below:

Jackson at the White House in 1984

How Cruise managed to convince a gaggle of reporters to gather for a press conference I don't know, but at least one person -- a former high school classmate she claims is the real father of Paris Jackson -- is saying Cruise "is not quite right."

Cruise claims to be the biological mother of Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket but not to have actually carried them herself. Not only that -- she says Jackson fathered a fourth child with her then forced her to give that child up to Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Which is probably ultimately okay, right?, since she also claims to have married Tom Cruise when she was nine years old. Oh, and Cruise says she sold Jackson her Beatles catalog and legally married him in 1983. In a rambling screed posted to her MySpace page, Cruise also says she married Ron Goldman (yes, that Ron Goldman), wrote George Michael's "Careless Whisper" and sang on Madonna's first album. There's more, but you get the idea.

Her MySpace friend pool is limited but if her fixation with Michael Jackson is any indication, friends Leonardo DiCaprio and John Mayer should probably be on the alert. ( washingtonpost.com )

READ MORE - Jacko Gave Her Baby to Tom Cruise

Permanent Custody Goes to Katherine Jackson, Visitation to Debbie Rowe

Custody Agreement Gives Michael Jackson Children to Grandmother Katherine ABC News Source: Permanent Custody Goes to Katherine Jackson, Visitation to Debbie Rowe

After weeks of negotiations, Michael Jackson's mother Katherine Jackson and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe have reached an out-of-court agreement that gives Katherine Jackson full, permanent custody of the pop icon's three children, while Rowe will be granted "meaningful visitation rights," ABC News has learned.A source with direct knowledge of the agreement told ABC News that under the agreement, Katherine Jackson maintains sole custody of Prince Michael I, 12, Paris-Michael Katherine, 11, and Prince Michael II, 7, also known as Blanket, while Rowe will have meaningful visitation rights and retain her legal parental rights.

A custody agreement has been reached between Katherine Jackson and Debbie Rowe over Michael Jackson's kids. (AP Photos/Getty Images)

Rowe and Katherine Jackson will split the cost of a child psychologist for the children, who have been living with their grandmother and their extended family at the Jackson family home in Encino, Calif., since Michael Jackson's June 25 death.

"The discussions were amicable and cooperative, rather than a give and take negotiation," the source told ABC News. "Both sides cooperated to reach agreement based solely on the best interest of the children."

Though it had been rumored that eldest Jackson sibling Rebbie Jackson, 59, may care for the children while Katherine Jackson retained custody, there was no mention of any siblings in the agreement.

Rumors that Rowe was seeking money in return for the the children's custody were false, the source said.

"No money was sought or agreed to," the source said, "except that Debbie Rowe will continue to receive the spousal support that she and Michael agreed to when Michael was alive."

The source also told ABC News that Rowe is the biological mother of Jackson's two eldest children, Prince Michael I and Paris. It had been reported that Rowe may not have been the older children's biological mother, something the source said is untrue.

Blanket, Michael Jackson's youngest child, was born to an unnamed surrogate after Jackson and Rowe divorced.

Lawyers for Katherine Jackson and Rowe plan to bring the agreement to Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday with the expectation that probate judge Mitchell Beckloff will approve it.

Question About Fourth Jackson Child Remains

Katherine Jackson was awarded temporary custody of the children in the days after her son's sudden death. Hearings to determine permanent custody were delayed twice while she and Rowe attempted to settle the matter out of court.

The question about a possible fourth child of Michael Jackson's still lingers.

Omer Bhatti, 25, who was a fixture at Jackson's Neverland Ranch and sat in the front row with the family at his memorial service, has denied being Jackson's child. But in a Wednesday interview on TV One, Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson claimed otherwise.

"Yes I knew he had another son," Joe Jackson said, referring to Bhatti. "He looks like a Jackson, he can dance like a Jackson."

Katherine Jackson is also hoping to be named co-executor of her son's estate. While Jackson's 2002 will gives 40 percent to his mother, 40 percent to his children and 20 percent to charity, control of his estate has been given to former Jackson lawyer John Branca and music executive John McLain.

Katherine Jackson is said to be questioning what her lawyer called a "suspicious circle of relationships" and how they will go about protecting Jackson's business affairs and the family legacy. ( abcnews.go.com )

READ MORE - Permanent Custody Goes to Katherine Jackson, Visitation to Debbie Rowe

Joe Jackson to Inherit Nothing From Son

Joe Jackson to Inherit Nothing From Son. Judge Tells Jackson He Will Not Inherit Any of Michael’s Assets and Can't Challenge Appointment of Will Executors

Katherine Jackson withdrew her request to be an executor of Michael Jackson's estate, but the Jackson matriarch did get full custody of her late son's children. Ben Tracy reports.

Joe Jackson, who was not named in Michael Jackson's will, could receive a family allowance since he claimed his son supported him. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Michael Jackson's father does not stand to inherit any of his son's assets and cannot challenge the appointment of the executors chosen by the singer to handle his will, a judge said Tuesday.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said Joe Jackson was not named in the will but could pursue a motion to receive a family allowance from the estate because he claimed his son had been supporting him.

Joe Jackson and his son had an often-strained relationship, and Michael Jackson said at one point that he would get physically sick - as a child and as an adult - at the sight of his father.

Beckloff ended a contentious all-day hearing by telling Joe.Jackson's lawyer, Brian Oxman, that his client had no standing to prolong the legal fray over Jackson's estate and would gain nothing
from doing so.

"I don't think he gets to step into this and create further litigation," the judge declared. "Joe Jackson takes none of this estate. This is a decision his son made."

In another development, the court released an accounting that the estate had paid nearly $1 million in expenses for the private family funeral held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Some of the expenses were $11,716 for invitations and programs; $35,000 for burial garments; $30,000 for cars and security; and $15,000 to a designer.

"I would have done it less expensively. But it was Michael Jackson, who was larger than life," Howard Weitzman, an attorney for the estate administrators, said outside court. "There's no reason he should not have a funeral that's larger than life."

Earlier in Tuesday's hearing, Michael Jackson's mother withdrew her objections to the appointment of two longtime Jackson associates as executors of his will.

The surprise announcement came from Katherine Jackson's new probate attorney Adam Streisand, who said his client felt it was time for the legal battle to end over the appointment of attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain.

Katherine Jackson now believes their appointment, as spelled out in her son's will, can "enhance the legacy of Michael Jackson in the best interest of his children," Streisand said.

It was Streisand's first major move in the case since he was chosen last month by Katherine Jackson to replace the team that had represented her since her son's death in June.

Beckloff later made the formal appointment of the executors after deciding Jackson's father could not challenge the move. Oxman threatened to appeal, which could interfere further with the appointments.

Streisand said Katherine Jackson decided she wanted to let the executors go about earning money for the estate rather than incurring more legal fees.

Oxman, however, accused her of reneging on an agreement with her family to challenge the executors and called the announcement in court "one of the most despicable things I have ever seen."

He accused Katherine Jackson of making a secret deal with the executors, a statement vehemently denied by Streisand and Weitzman.

Streisand said no one but he and Mrs. Jackson knew of her decision until he stood in court and announced it.

"All the credit goes to Mrs. Jackson," the lawyer said. "She is really the wise sage of this family."

The judge scheduled a hearing for Dec. 10 on Joe Jackson's request for a family allowance. Streisand suggested Katherine Jackson would support that request.

The will left Michael Jackson's assets to his mother, his children and children's charities.

Branca is an attorney who represented Jackson for more than 20 years and is regarded as the architect of his financial empire. McClain is a music executive and childhood friend of the singer.

Katherine Jackson's original legal team complained that she was not being given enough of a role in making decisions after her son's death. While they considered a challenge, the judge allowed the administrators to go forward with projects including the movie, "This Is It," which brought $60 million into the estate and became a box office hit.

Branca and McClain were credited as executive producers on the movie.

A 60-page motion filed by Oxman detailed Joe Jackson's bid to get money from his son's estate. The father is seeking an allowance to help cover expenses that exceed $15,000 a month, according to the court documents.

The documents said Joe Jackson receives a $1,700 monthly Social Security payment and had relied on his son for support for many years.

Joe Jackson suffers from diabetes and had a stroke in 1998, the filing stated.

A former steelworker, he managed and trained his children and organized the Jackson 5. He has been married to Katherine Jackson for 50 years, but he lists his home in Las Vegas. She lives at a family home in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.

The filings list Joe Jackson's age as 80 in one place and 81 in another.

His list of monthly expenses includes $1,200 for rent for his Las Vegas home; $2,500 to eat out; $1,000 for entertainment, gifts and vacations; $2,000 on air travel and $3,000 on hotels. [ cbsnews.com ]

READ MORE - Joe Jackson to Inherit Nothing From Son