Judge Grants Custody to Katherine Jackson

Katherine Jackson is now the sole carer of her late son Michael Jackson’s children, with a Los Angeles judge signing off on a deal to grant the 79-year-old full custody on Monday.

The Jackson matriarch and her son’s former wife, Debbie Rowe, reached an agreement regarding children Prince Michael I, Paris Michael – Rowe’s biological son and daughter – late last week, with Rowe agreeing to visitation rights and continued spousal support in exchange for relinquishing her claim on the children.

At the hearing on Monday, Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff stated that Katherine would be supplied with a “family allowance” paid out of the King of Pop’s estate to better care for his children.

“It’s not my intention to deprive the children of anything,” Beckloff said.

Jackson’s other child, Prince Michael II – aka Blanket – will also be raised by his grandmother, with the judge ruling that there was “no legal mother” to care for him.

Rowe’s attorney, Eric George, released a statement on his client’s behalf outside of court, praising the result that had been reached.

“Today the parties and the California court brought about a result that is selfless and wise through a process that was collaborative and fair,” George said. “Everyone sought the same objective: doing what is best for the children of Debbie Rowe and Michael Jackson. Today’s result – five-and-a-half-weeks after the tragic death of Michael Jackson, eliminates uncertainty and offers stability to the lives of these children.”

A status hearing will be held on January 11, 2010.

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Jackson’s Mother Wins Custody of His Kids

Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine, will be awarded custody of his three children, according to the terms of a new deal that has just been reached between the Jackson matriarch and her ex-daughter-in-law, Debbie Rowe.

The deal states that Katherine, 79, will get full custody and Rowe will have visitation rights; however, the former nurse won’t receive any money in exchange for relinquishing her custodial rights to Jackson’s mother.

Previous reports had suggested Rowe was set to give up her rights to care for the children for a large lump sum payment from the Jacksons, rumours which Rowe has vehemently denied.

“It’s an agreement,” said L. Londell McMillan, Katherine Jackson’s attorney in the case, “an agreement for the best interests of the children.”

McMillian was quick to point out that money had absolutely nothing to do with the deal that was struck between Rowe and the Jacksons, contrary to what the media has stipulated.

“This is not a money deal,” he said. “This is not about money.”

“There is no situation better for these children than for them to be raised and reared in the loving care of Mrs. Katherine Jackson,” McMillian added.

While the custody of Michael Jackson’s children may have been sorted, the battle for his estate is still on-going, with McMillian hinting that the King of Pop could have been worth more than $2 billion.

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Jackson’s Kids to be Raised by Aunt

Michael Jackson’s orphaned children will reportedly be raised by their aunt, Rebbie Jackson, if Jackson matriarch Katherine gains custody over their biological mother Debbie Rowe.

A source has revealed that Rebbie, one of the lesser known of the Jackson clan, has been “privately” and “deeply” involved in the lives of her younger brother’s three children, and is the best possible carer for Prince Michael, Paris Michael and Blanket.

While the Jacksons are still divided on many issues in regards to Michael’s estate, the source was adamant that everyone involved believes Rebbie should be the one to raise the children, and there would be no question that the 59-year-old singer would push to become their custodial parent.

Rebbie, who shares a Las Vegas home with her husband of 20 years, is currently living with her mother and Michael’s three children at the Jackson family’s Encino home.

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Jackson Guardianship Hearing Postponed

The guardianship hearing for Michael Jackson’s three children has been postponed for a second time, with reports that Jackson matriach Katherine and her onetime daughter-in-law Debbie Rowe are close to a settlement.

The hearing had been slated for July 20, but has since been re-scheduled for August 3, after sources revealed to TMZ.com that both Rowe and the Jackson family were “in discussion” over a custody settlement for the two eldest Jackson children, Prince Michael I and Paris Michael Katherine.

The deal, according to the sources, “is amicable and involves the children – not money,” and is expected to be agreed upon soon.

It is believed that Rowe had a secret deal with her ex-husband, Michael Jackson, involving the children and a very large sum of money, to be paid at various intervals for an “unknown” and extended period of time. That agreement is said to have “survived” Jackson’s death, which would explain why Rowe doesn’t seem to be pushing for money at this point in time.

Katherine Jackson will remain the children’s temporary guardian until the August 3 hearing.

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Debbie Rowe Denies Custody Deal

The great custody battle between Jackson matriarch Katherine J and her onetime daughter-in-law is still very much alive, with Debbie Rowe revealing she is continuing her bid for parental rights, and has no intention of ever selling her children.

It was reported yesterday that the former dental nurse had relinquished her parental rights to the two elder Jackson kids in exchange for a lump sum payout of around $4 million – a near identical amount to the cash payment Rowe received for handing over her custodial claims in 2005 during the King of Pop’s very public child molestation trial.

However, Rowe has denied that any monetary settlement has taken place, and insists that the custody hearing scheduled for July 20 is still very much on.

Rowe’s lawyer, Eric George, has sent an open letter to the press, demanding an “immediate retraction” for the falsities that were published globally on his client’s apparent sell-out.

“There has been no agreement reached between Ms. Rowe and the Jacksons,” the letter states. “Ms. Rowe has not and will not give up her parental rights. No determination has been reached concerning custody or visitation. And Ms. Rowe has not accepted and will not accept any additional financial consideration beyond the spousal support she and Michael personally agreed to several years ago.”

No comment has been made by the Jackson camp in regards to this latest statement from Debbie Rowe and her lawyers, which makes it all the more likely that the Jacksons put the offer on the table, and the former wife of the Thriller singer declined it.

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Debbie Rowe Sells Kids… Again

Debbie Rowe, the former wife of the late Michael Jackson, has reportedly sold her children for a third time, reliquishing her custody rights to Jackson’s mother, Katherine, for a cool $4 million.

“It’s one final payday,” said a source close to the family.

The Jackson family “isn’t happy” about the large exchange of cash, according to reports, but they were willing to go through with it because they consider it to be a “necessary evil”.

A pal explained: “[The Jacksons] felt it was like a ransom-type thing. [Rowe] jumped back into the picture because she wanted money.”

Before Jackson’s June 25 death, Rowe – a former dental nurse – had previously given up all parental rights to her two biological children, Prince Michael I and Paris Michael Katherine, in exchange for a lump sum of $8 million plus $900,000 annually for the first five years.

However, when Jackson was accused of child molestation in 2001, Rowe attempted to regain custody of her children, threatening to drag the matter through the courts and further tarnish the King of Pop’s name. That never happened, and Rowe walked away – for the second time – with another $4 million in cash and a $900,000 home.

This time – the third time Rowe has threatened to reinstate her parental rights over the Jackson children – the onetime wife of the pop star has said she is “forfeiting her restored parental rights” to Katherine Jackson in exchange for another near $4 million sum.

“This would be it,” the source said. “This takes away any rights she has to challenge custody at any given time.

“If something happens to Katherine, [Rowe] can’t challenge the next [guardian], whether that be Diana Ross or someone in the family.”

Reps for neither Rowe or the Jackson family were available for comment at the time of this article.

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Debbie Rowe Never Wanted to be a Mother

Even though she admits it’s likely she’ll fight for custody of the Jackson children – Prince Michael I and Paris Katherine Michael – Debbie Rowe has revealed that she never wanted to be a mother.

“Parenting is an art: you earn the title,” Rowe said during an interview with Us Magazine’s Ian Drew in 2003. “Because you give birth and impregnate someone does not automatically give you the title of mother or father – you earn the title.”

Rowe said that she had no intention of being a mother to the children she carried (through artificial insemination), and admits that the only reason she had them at all was because she thought her patient – superstar Michael Jackson – would be a good father.

“My kids don’t call me mum because I don’t want them to,” Rowe explained. “They are Michael’s children. It’s not that they’re not my children, but I had them because I wanted him to be a father.”

The former nurse also hit back at claims that she abandoned her children to the King of Pop for monetary gain after she and Jackson divorced in 1999, insisting that their was no abandonment when the singer was such a good father.

“They say, ‘I can’t believe she left her children.’ Left them? I did not leave my children,” Rowe recalls. “My children are with their father where they are supposed to be.”

When she was asked why she’d never pushed for joint custody or regular visitation rights, Rowe added: “I didn’t do it to be a mother. Like I said, you earn the title. I didn’t change diapers. I didn’t get up in the middle of the night – even when I was there. Michael did it all. I am telling you that he is the most brilliant father. Almost before the baby needed something, he knew what it was. And that’s not for me.”

The custody hearing for the two eldest Jackson children is set to take place on July 13, and Rowe is expected to petition the courts for full guardianship. Until that hearing takes place, Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, will remain as temporary guardian of all three children.

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Debbie Rowe Pulls Out of Jackson Memorial, Attacks Paparazzi

Debbie Rowe, the onetime wife of the late popstar Michael Jackson and mother to two of his three children, has pulled out of her ex-husband’s memorial service at the last minute.

The former nurse originally said she would attending the service, which is being held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on Tuesday; however, a representative for Rowe has revealed that she has since declined her invitation.

“Although Debbie had originally planned to attend tomorrow’s Staples Center memorial service, we have concluded with Debbie that she will not be attending,” her rep said in a statement. “The onslaught of media attention has made it clear her attendance would be an unnecessary distraction to an event that should focus exclusively on Michael’s legacy. Debbie will continue to celebrate Michael’s memory privately.”

According to several sources, Rowe’s decision to not attend the day-long service stems from an altercation she had with photographers on Sunday. Jackson’s ex-wife was leaving a Chinese restaurant near her home when she allegedly yelled at the paparazzi, “Are you ready to get your butt kicked? Don’t f***ing touch me!”

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Debbie Rowe Wants Custody of Jackson’s Children

Michael Jackson’s former wife Debbie Rowe has reportedly decided to fight for custody of her two children, Prince Michael Jr. and Paris, whom she carried for the popstar in exchange for a large sum of money.

“I want my children,” Ms Rowe said. “I am stepping up… I have to.”

The reason Rowe has chosen to take the battle to court has to do with Jackson’s appointed guardians for the children – his mother Katherine Jackson, soon to be 80, and close friend Diana Ross, who the children have never met. Rowe is also concerned at the level of Joe Jackson’s involvement in the children’s lives, after the King of Pop accused his father of abuse years ago.

However, there’s a lot of obstacles for the nurse and onetime wife of the pop superstar to overcome, not the least of which is the rumours that she’s not the biological mother of the two eldest Jackson children. Rowe has said that she is willing to submit to any testing, including DNA, to prove that she is their biological mother.

Another of the many obstacles includes Rowe’s 2001 petition to give up her parental rights over the children, in exchange for a house and millions of dollars in cash. Rowe later “reversed her decision” and secured herself visitation rights, but legal experts say this could severly hinder any chance she may or may not have to win custody.

Paternity of Jackson Children Still Uncertain

Earlier in the week, Debbie Rowe broke the news that Michael Jackson wasn’t the biological father of his three children, Michael Jr., Paris, and Prince Michael II. While the Jackson clan have denied the claims, it appears they aren’t as false as first thought; however, Rowe – who says Jackson paid her to have his children – isn’t the biological mother of the two eldest Jacksons, either.

According to “multiple sources” connected to the births of the Jackson children, all three children were conceived in vitro – outside of the womb, courtesy of anonymous donors. The sources say that Michael did not donate his sperm for any of his children, and Rowe, who was until now believed to be the mother of Michael Jr. and Paris, was nothing more than a surrogate carrying another woman’s eggs.

As for the third Jackson child – Prince Michael II, aka ‘Blanket’ – it is not known who his real parents are. The surrogate, it is believed, was never told of the identity of the “receiving parent,” and so didn’t know she was carrying a baby for pop superstar Michael Jackson.

What this news will do for the coming custody battles, no one knows. We’re told this type of case has never been litigated in California courts before, so it’s anyone’s game, basically. Rowe has said that she has no intention of challenging the Jackson’s for the right to raise her children, but with the children’s inheritence on the tables – quite a significant amount of money – there’s no telling whether or not the onetime wife of the Thriller singer will change her mind before the matter has been settled.

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