Katherine Jackson and Debbie Rowe Strike a Custody Deal

An out of court settlement has been reached between Katherine Jackson, and Debbie Rowe, to resolve the issue of who gets custody of Michael’s two older children, Paris, and Prince Michael.

The settlement, would grant 79 year old Katherine Jackson custody of the two children, as Jackson stated in his 2002 will, and Mrs. Jackson as agreed to give Debbie Rowe visitation rights. Speaking with CBS News, L. Londell McMillan, Katherine Jackson’s attorney, said no money will be paid to Rowe as part of the deal. Earlier Rowe also refuted claims that she was giving up parental rights, for a large sum of money.

This out of court settlement is a significant development, because it guarantees that all three children will remain together, and also prevent a bitter custody battle in court, with the children in the middle. Most importantly, however, is that Michael Jackson’s wishes will be honored.

By living with the Jacksons, the children will get the opportunity to learn, and identify more with their father’s life and achievements, since he is no longer here to teach them. Attorney McMillan, also said that “Its an agreement, an agreement for the best interests of the children” “This is not about money” He also added that “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 when asked by CBS to confirm whether Michael had a fourth biological child, he responded, “I’m not in the rumor business” ”I am in the law business” He further stated “I am not going to even entertain those questions now”

The court is set to decide on the custody of the children today August 3rd, and with an out of court settlement, it is expected that the court will “rubber stamp” the agreement. It is reported that the Jacksons have agreed that if the court grants custody to Mrs. Jackson, Rebbie, Michael’s oldest sibling, will raise the three children. Michael was very sentimental in naming his children, with them all bearing both his names, and the two older children each named after their grandfather Joe Jackson and Grandmother, Katherine Jackson. He made sure of this when he named them, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson known as Blanket.

The estate hearing and the hearing to allocate the allowances for Katherine Jackson and the three children will also be heard in court today. The estate issue will be contentious. The very existence of a will is being challenged, because Mrs. Jackson’s attorney L. Londell McMillan, is asking how no one else knew of the will, until after Michael died, and why after he died, the temporary administrators did not come forward and indicate there was a will, until Mrs. Jackson went to court, and told the court there was no will. On the other hand, the temporary administrators are claiming that Mrs. Katherine Jackson “would like to rewrite Michael’s will and make herself the executor.

The battle lines are obviously drawn, and clearly defined. No side trusts the other. If the temporary administrators convince the judge, and they are named permanent administrators, Mrs. Jackson is asking the court to give her a bigger role at the table to oversee Michael’s estate. Either way she will get 40 percent of the estate. What bothers her is that 40 percent of how much, which can make a great difference. She wants to help determine how much the overall estate will be worth now or in the future. The administrators if appointed by the judge will earn a percentage of Michael’s estate, and given that Michael’s estate is expected to grow even more in death, this will be a good deal for the administrators for years to come.

The real court fight will now begin, and will continue for many years to come.