In Exclusive Interview: Michael Jackson Family Attorney Tells What's Next for Custody, Estate

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Pharoh Martin, NNPA National Correspondent

July 27, 2009

WASHINGTON (NNPA) - The family of Michael Jackson will find the answers to lingering issues surrounding of the late pop icon's estate and the legal custody of his three children, who range in ages from 7 to 12, during a critical Aug. 3 hearing in Los Angeles.
Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, has hired high-profile celebrity attorney L. Londell McMillan to handle those legal affairs.
McMillan, who served as attorney for Michael Jackson for three years has also represented other music stars such as Prince, Stevie Wonder, Lil Kim and Kanye West.
In an exclusive interview, McMillan, who is Michael Jackson's family-appointed legacy attorney and spokesperson, discussed the family's goals and concerns in their battle for Michael's children and legacy.
"Katherine Jackson, who is represented by myself and my team, have been in negotiations and discussions with Debbie Rowe and her lawyers,'' McMillan responded when asked about the validity of reports that the family was negotiating settlement with the surrogate mother of Michael's two eldest kids to maintain custody. "Mrs. Jackson and Ms. Rowe have both been conducting themselves in a very amicable, courteous manner, to do whatever is going to be done in the best interests of the children.''
There are two distinct legal actions at play that the Jackson family is pursuing. One action is as it relates to the custody and guardianship of Michael Jackson's three children. The other is how it relates to the administration, control and management of Michael's estate, which is believed to be valued in excess of half of a billion dollars. It includes his music recordings, art work, various real estate interests and business interests such as the Beatles renowned Sony/ATV music catalog and, of course, Michael's own highly lucrative music publishing catalog.
Katherine Jackson currently has temporary custody of 12-year-old Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael; 11-year-old Paris Michael Katherine Jackson; and 7-year-old Prince Michael II, known as Blanket.
The lawyer said that despite the media scrutiny the negotiation process has not been contentious as has been reported. However, the same cannot be said about the proceedings involving the control of Michael's estate.
"There have been quite a bit of back and forth and differences of opinion with respects to how Michael Jackson's business will be handled and who will control, administer and handle his business assets. And that is how the difficulty has created much concern and debate," McMillan said.

Katherine Jackson will contest custodial oversight of the will at the Aug. 3 probate, during which all claims will be resolved and the distribution of Michael's property will be determined. The will, written by Michael Jackson in 2002, named attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain as the will's executors. Michael's close associates both have temporary control of Jackson's estate. The assets will be transferred into a trust, which will also be administrated by the same co-executives, except the trust's charitable component, at which point Katherine Jackson is a part of the trustee team. The will states that Katherine Jackson should be a beneficiary and named as the guardian of the children and their estates.
"Based on 2002, when that will was drafted, and June 25th of 2009, when Mr. Jackson passed away, there's been considerable amount of evidence that Mr. Jackson would not and does not want this particular estate served by individuals that were listed in 2002 without his mother having a seat at that table," McMillan explains why he believes Katherine Jackson should be allowed to be involved in the decisions of business affairs of the estate.
McMillan reasons that rather than fighting it out in the court system, this should be an invitation by the executive; particularly since Katherine Jackson is the only adult beneficiary of the will and the trust.
"For the life of me, we are having difficulties understanding why Mr. Branca and Mr. McClain continue to object to Michael Jackson's mother serving on the trustee team with her advisers to make sure that Michael Jackson's legacy is going to be administered and controlled in a way that she knows and those that were close to Michael toward the end of his days knows what he would have wanted," McMillan said. "To have his estate go into the hands of people from 2002 that he's ceased doing business with, and that he later had disputes with, presents challenges and problems, and it also puts a legacy issue in question. And that is what we are seeking to resolve."
McMillan also laid truth to rumors involving the roles of various family members on the matter. "The truth is that Katherine Jackson will be the guardian," McMillan responded when asked about reports that Michael's sister Rebe Jackson would raise the kids if Katherine got awarded custody. "She's very active and she's a very healthy and vibrant 70 plus year-old woman. She's always been the primary maternal caretaker of that entire family and their grandchildren. The rumors are circulating, possibly, because Rebe is very close to her mother and she's always been like a parent to her siblings and others."

A lot has been made in the media about Joe Jackson's involvement but McMillan shot that down also.
"He has very little, if any, influence other than he's the grandfather. He said hello and he shows his support. He will have no child rearing obligations with these children," he said. He added that Joe Jackson will have no connection to affairs of the estate.
"Michael did not have his family play a major role in his business, other than his mom. His mother is one that is a trustee and has been a trustee in his businesses and she should be a trustee in his post-death business. She's the one person that he's trusted more than anybody else in his life."
McMillan argued that if Katherine Jackson is not in control of her son's legacy than it will go into the hands of people who do not share the same interests as the late pop icon or the community that he was concerned about.
"'Elvis Presley's family has a seat at the table. The Beatles' family has a seat at the table. Michael Jackson's mother should have a seat at the table."
For now, she is a beneficiary.
According to McMillan, the will divides Michael's assets as such: 20 percent will go to charity, 40 percent held in trust for Mrs. Jackson and the rest will be held in trust for Michael's children.
He said a primary concern here is if Mrs. Jackson doesn't have custody, who will have control of Michael Jackson's legacy and his history from here until the rest of time?
"He had some definitive views about how he wanted his life and legacy to be remembered. Why would people want to restrict his mother from serving in an equal capacity on some board to oversee Michael Jackson's legacy? I don't accept that proposition."

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To the Jackson family my heart felt sympathy.I grew up watching the jackson 5 and michael. never once didn't i like his music. I never believe the child malestation charges i feel this is when he went down hill not truly being able to get over such charges. i believe he hated never land because of those carges but believed down in side he really still loved it. I always felt bad for him in his surgeries i thought he was a nice looking guy until they destroyed his nose.i never was able to meet him or see a concert but i truly believed he was a good caring person i hope that something will be made out of never land for him then he will be looking down smiling to have his life back and in peace good luck in every thing and i am so happy you katherine got custody of those 3 beautiful children May the good lord look down and give the guidence needed hope only the best for all of you

Its about time, I was getting worried that things had gone array with the proper way of getting this handled. Good Luck to the mother and thanks to the Lawyers in representing and job well done so far, in getting things in prospective. I thought those "voulgers" were going to get away with taking everything....

mom will do it RIGHT but it in mother control thank you melvin s

I agree 100%.

Mrs. Jackson ( Michael's mother )should raise the kids and she is the one Michael said in the will he wanted. Why have a will if it is not respected and followed through. I hope Mrs. Jackson , Michael's Mom , sees that his will is carried through. She should be in charge. If she gets too old, then in her will ~ she should state who should carry on.

I forgot to leave my name, sorry. My name is Toni Reidy, Thank you.

I am 46 and a mother of 2. I have followed the Jackson family all of my life. I agree wholeheartedly with everything that has been stated here. Michael worked harder than anyone else I know throughout his life. The way he was treated as a human being in this country is appauling. He had the biggest heart and unbreakable spirit, and for that I am very proud of him. And I applaud Mrs. Jackson for raising such a beautiful soul. Not only do I feel she should have complete custody of Michaels beloved children, but if anyone deserves the right to his estate, and control of his wonderful legacy, it should be Mrs, Jackson and Michaels children. He was a special gift from God and needs to be remembered that way. She is the only one that can and will make that happen. His family knew him better than anyone, and knows what was in his heart. What the Jackson family says,I believe. And I know they all have Michaels best interests at heart. Michael is safe in the hands of God now where he cannot be hurt anymore, so please allow Mrs. Jackson to carry out her sons legacy as she knows how he would have wanted it. There were not very many people Michael trusted at the end of his life, he made no secret of that. And from what I have heard for awhile now ,is the two gentlemen listed in his 2002 will, were two he had lost all trust for.I feel bad that for all the U.S. has put him through the past few years, he probably, unfortunately just did not get around to updating his will. Mrs. Jackson, my heart goes out to you and your family, and I pray that you are awarded everything your son has soley accomplished and earned throughout his life. I honestly believe he would have wanted it that way. Please stand tall and do not let them break you. You are your sons mother, and he didn't let them break him. God Bless.

I think that Michael Jackson's wishes should be met simply because he made the money and he loved his mother and the 3 children. Allow him to be at peace knowing that his wishes were fulfilled. He never had anything RIGHT/GOOD to happen to him in his life (except for making that money) so let his money make the ones whom he loved and the ones who loved him HAPPY. That would be none other than Katherine Jackson , 12-year-old Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael; 11-year-old Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and 7-year-old Prince Michael II, known as Blanket. It hurts me to hear the negative things about him because looking at him just on TV in his last days, I could see the sadness in his eyes. Michael knew that he couldn't make that big of a comeback so he made a deal with financially desperate people to take his life, that's srickly speculation and strickly my opinion.

My sympathy goes out to the Jackson's family. I am praying for you all. I love Michael and he will be dearly missed. Mrs. Katherine Jackson knows her son better than anybody in this world. Obviously her son love his mother dearly and believed that she is capable of making important decisions involving his life before and after death. Michael knows that his mother will look out for his best interest as well as his children. If Debbie or anyone else want custody of his children, it is only for the money and not what is best for them. Michael paid Debbie to exit their lives so why would she be a factor at all. It is so amazing how the courts could allow him to pay her and then later on in life come back and let her claim custody. The courts was paid as well for providing the service that Michael requested and now they are being paid again to unrequest his wishes. If the executors would not let Mrs. Jackson be a part of the executive team that should tell us that they will make sure they are well paid and no one will be able to see that they are looking out for their best interest and not Michaels. Mr. Branca and Mr. McClain please spare the family grief. Nobody really understand what they are doing to the Jackson's family by being so controversy. No one step back and said let us seat down and make decisions according to the will of Michael Jackson's legend. The bottom line is who will get the most money from something that do not belong to them. I know Mrs. Jackson would look out for her family and make sure Michael's desire is granted but the other people will look out for themselves and other business. I hope other entertainers is learning from this lesson and have their business precisely in better order. L. Rhodes from Atlanta

I think that Katherine should get full custody of the three kids. If he had left a will, why not go by the will? On the other hand, Debbie in the first place should never have left her children. She deserves whatever she gets. I want to see justice with his kids and his belongings. Thank you

YES! I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT MICHAELS MOM SHOULD HAVE SEAT AT THE TABLE TOO.

I agree Absolutely - whole heartedly. Katherine, Michaels mom, should have every right to sit in on any and all dealings regarding MJ's estate issues...afterall, Michael undoubtedly loved, respected, and trusted his mom otherwise she would not be the one he declared as taking caree and control of his most valuable of all....the children! This is a very clear cut deal in my mind, as it should be for anyone. God Bless his mom, children, siblings, and Michael Jackson. Best of luck to all of Michael Jackson fans, too.

It is a shame families go through fighting about money they did not earn and try to make decisions for someone that has pasted on. All of them should be ashamed of themselves. What would they say if MJ walked back into the living. Shame on all of them. O, I forgot they were no where around when MJ was alive and kicking. They stood by and watched him get deeper into drugs and just say now they could not do anything. O course they could have done something. He was a son, brother and much more to them, they failed him and now they are acting like jack asses over his money. Shame

praying for the kids to stay with the Jackson family ..were he Michael wanted then to be ..also it would be so wrong to spilt the kids that are hurting with out there dad.God loves Family so my prayer is that they stay together..In Jesus name..also praying for Michael to be layed to rest at the home he loved for they cant hurt he anymore.and a place he and his kids loved befor the sick people and the lies of evil.made hen leave.For God will deal with then

THAT'S RIGHT...LET MOMS TAKE CARE OF IT ALL!!! NOT THESE FOLKS WHO ARE JUST MONEY HUNGRY. MIKE KEPT THEM ALL WELL PAID. WHY BE GREEDY? THAT'S WHY HE'S DEAD NOW.