Michael Jackson’s Parents File Papers to Administer his Estate

This is gonna be so ugly…
Can a judge issue a gag order on all things estate related until everything is done?
Because that would be a good thing IMO.

Wow, they’re moving fast

On one hand I think it is an excellent idea if Michael’s mother has custody of the kids. It sounds like they are quite close to their grandmother. On the other hand I think it is terrible idea because their grandfather would be involved as well. And Michael said in a few interviews how his father abused him. I don’t think it a good idea to put 3 kids back into that house.

But I guess it comes down to what Michael said in his will. Hopefully he has something in writing about who should have the kids.

Don’t be so sure MJ.

Now California law may be different but if the will clearly named Katherine Jackson as the administrator or executrix, the judge wouldn’t have hesitated to name her so. He has given her temporary guardianship because that is an issue that needs to be addressed now. And that is temporary because again we don’t know what the will specified and even then that requires a separate judicial determination.

With an estate this vast and complex, I think he is going to want to make absolutely sure he has the most current will in his hot little hands first off. For all we know MJ has a few floating around, ugly indeed. And I think the judge is proceeding very prudently.

It would make no sense to me for MJ to name his elderly parents as executors or administrators even if he trusted his old man.

For an estate that large you would normally choose a team of your more capable siblings along with some third parties like lawyers or financial advisors you trust to help your siblings and also to be the deciding vote if there is a disagreement about issues. Or you could totally cut out the family and have a lawyer, a corporation that specializes in this or a group of non relatives look after the administration of the estate.

And I cannot imagine MJ did not have a will that was not frequently updated. Obsessed as he was about death.

Have you guys seen this CNN interview with Joe Jackson at the BET last night? Could he be anymore callous?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/28/BET.awards.show/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

And I cannot imagine MJ did not have a will that was not frequently updated.

I agree. I wonder where his Will is? Unless his attorney has it. The jacksons are masters are secretcey so who knows what is going on behind the scenes.

Vultures! The body is hardly cold!

I have NEVER believed that Michael was the biological father of those kids and if Debbie Rowe decides to fight the Jacksons for custody that just might come up!

I can think of no worse place for those kids than with the grandparents. Joe may not live in that house full time but I have no love for Michael’s mother either. According to Michael his father was very abusive and was never given a chance to be a child. Michael’s mother HAD to have known what was going on all those years so she is as guilty as Joe Jackson. I don’t believe for a minute they are doing this for the good of the children, it’s GREED!

Get those kids out of that house, the sooner the better!

In fact why is Katherine trying to jump the gun here – now I understand you do want to protect all the assets of MJ as quickly as you can because you want to clear up that debt if you can precisely so the children are looked after this thing about making the children the beneficiaries – what makes her think Michael has not done that already.

Hmmm could it be the will has in fact been read and Katherine and Joe are not happy with the will? Could it be that the will is as bizarre as MJ’s life – did he leave it all to a chimp or something or, oh, worse Nation of Islam?

Those poor kids. I wonder who will actually end up with them. What a crazy life.

Joe seemed almost gleeful at all the attention in his press conference with Al Sharpton this afternoon. He is an odious creature.

Good lord here comes Reverend Al – you know the circus is in town.

According to the family attorney, Michael did not have a will.

L. Londell McMillan, the attorney representing Katherine and Joe Jackson, appeared on NBC’s Today this morning to state the Jackson family’s case……. Meanwhile, McMillan also dropped the bombshell that Michael apparently did not have a will

@jericho…wow just wow….even us peons have wills.

Well I think I would prefer to hear from a lawyer representing Michael Jackson/his estate – what, did Joe go and burn it – hopefully a valid copy is sitting in the vault of a lawyer’s office or a safety deposit box, safe from the hands of Joe Jackson.

What makes me think that by not having a will that MJ subjected his (or somebody’s) children to the same hell he had. I never had much use for Michael Jackson…I have even less now. He’s been half dead for years. Why the fuck didn’t he have a will to protect his purpoted children? I have even less use for the man dead than I did alive….fairly worthless except to fuck up innocent children’s lives, IMO.

Good lord I hope it’s not true that MJ had no will.

I don’t believe anything the Jackson’s say. And, anything involving Al Sharpton just becomes loony. He’s a freaking cartoon character.

And Michael said in a few interviews how his father abused him.

Ok I’m just gonna put this out there. Michael Jackson lived in some weird alternate reality where it was ok to have sleep overs with young boys and have a chimp as your best friend. Clearly Michael Jackson was a very strange man. I am not certain I believe Michael’s claims of abuse by his father. Now I do not like the man because he is a self-serving bastard who really only cared about himself however that does not make him a child abuser. Reports from many different sources from Michael’s childhood have never supported Michael’s claims.

Reports from many different sources from Michael’s childhood have never supported Michael’s claims.

I must have read or heard many different statements from all nine of the Jackson siblings that they were abused either mentally or physically by their father. In fact, I think Michael was one of the last to confirm this information. But then, I may have just thought I’ve been hearing this stuff for the last 40 years.

Michael can’t even defend himself anymore!!

L. Londell McMillan, the attorney representing Katherine and Joe Jackson, appeared on NBC’s Today this morning to state the Jackson family’s case’ ¦’ ¦. Meanwhile, McMillan also dropped the bombshell that Michael apparently did not have a will

Geez he’s a lying hypocrite too! Last night when Don Lemon interviewed him on CNN he specifically said that they DID NOT KNOW if there was a will. Now he has found out in less than 12 hours? Uhm I don’t think so…..

Jericho says

According to the family attorney, Michael did not have a will.

L. Londell McMillan, the attorney representing Katherine and Joe Jackson, appeared on NBC’s Today this morning to state the Jackson family’s case’ ¦’ ¦. Meanwhile, McMillan also dropped the bombshell that Michael apparently did not have a will
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No!!!! Michael had to have a will!! If not, those poor children! No he had to have a will.

I must have read or heard many different statements from all nine of the Jackson siblings that they were abused either mentally or physically by their father.

I believe the only other Jackson to claim abuse was LaToya who later retracted most of her claims. I believe Janet’s exact words regarding her sister’s claim were, “That’s just a bunch of crap.”

It doesn’t take a set amount of time to find out if somebody had a will or not. I don’t know about calling somebody a lying hypocrite because they think they found out. It actually only takes a minute. I think from what I heard since the beginning that I felt the dude had no will. I also think it’s fitting for him so I’m not surprised or looking that much further. But then I’m not an MJ fan, so I don’t even look for the best in him. I’ve not, however, tried to say bad about him at any juncture I could….just in things like not protecting his children with a will. Come on, he fucked up the millions he had so that he had to try to do a tour (that ultimately killed him) to make it better. The dude was fucked up…that’s the ultimate truth. It has nothing to do with how amazing his music was.

Sure didn’t take long for the Reverends Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to show up and find the TV cameras.

dup post, so very sorry.

dup post. Sorry.

Gingerly-word except I thought MJ did care for his kids…

Hwc–Thier attracted to cameras like bears to honey…bonus if it happens to be a high profile….

If Jackson died without a valid will and trust in place, I would not be surprised. Jackson’s peculiar and irrational behavior did not suggest that he was able to make even the slightest of good decisions. If a will and/or trust does materialize, I am sure it will be challenged by more than one party. Who can really have faith in any of the scummy lawyers that have attached themselves to this pathetic cash cow over the years.

I know there are many posters here on MJ’s who are attorneys. If there is no will, wouldn’t MJ’s next of kin be entitled to his estate? Wouldn’t his children be considered the closest next of kin? I would also think the court would appoint representation for MJ’s kids and they would have their own attorney as their advocate? Just because Michael’s parents are attempting to get the kids and the control of his estate doesn’t mean a judge will grant it to them. I’m not an attorney, so it would be interesting to know what California law (MJ is considered a California resident? yes?) is in regards to this.

I just saw on the news that Michael Jackson DOES have a WILL!

I absolutely love the fact that radio play for his music has increased 1735%. WOW. It just goes to show that there are many, many people like me that appreciated Michael Jackson for the unprecedented talent that he was. The man was amazing. It’s just a shame he’s not here to see it all happening.

Yup, MJ’s children are his next of kin, but they are minors, so they don’t count in a court of law His next next of kin would be his parents. Gawd, I freaking hope he has a will. I just don’t think he does, because I don’t think he gave a thought to anybody but himself.

Yup, MJ’s children are his next of kin, but they are minors, so they don’t count in a court of law His next next of kin would be his parents. Gawd, I freaking hope he has a will. I just don’t think he does, because I don’t think he gave a thought to anybody but himself.

Is there a possiblity his estate would be put into a trust until the kids turn 18? Could there be a court appointed trustee that would handle the finances although custody could be granted to the grandparents or other family members? If there is no will, does it automatically go to the parents? I still think the court might appoint an attorney on behalf of the kids..but I could be wrong on that.

This is shaping up to be like the Anna Nicole battle, except that Anna had a will but the battle was between who got custody of the baby. I’m sure this will take on even more drama.

If MJ did have a will, but didn’t state who was going to get custody of the kids, then, ma ma mia.

I also wonder how much money has been made on ITUNES this past week for MJ. I’m assuming that money goes into his estate.
I also wonder what his debt is?

I truly don’t think Michael would die intestate. I think that he loved his kids and would have done all to protect them. I also think that as litigious as he had become that this would have been silly on his part.

Nobody knows what will actually happen. Eventually it’s in the hands of a judge to sort it out. I don’t know that you can ever point out any other case to determine what will happen. Yes there are cases that went before, but ultimately it’s the interpretation of the law by the judge sitting on the case. I do pray for the children and what’s best for them. I’m just not in any position to know what’s best for them. I do know, however, it’s a sad sad situation.

undercooked – I’m not licensed to practice in California, but where I practice, if a person dies intestate (i.e. no will) then the probate estate will pass first to any descendants and spouse. If there are no descendants and there is no spouse, then it would go up to his parents, if living. If not, then to siblings, etc.

However, that only applies to the probate estate – which means assets NOT already passing to beneficiaries through some other means (i.e. through a trust, beneficiary designations on financial accounts/insurance, etc.). I typically draft both a will and trust (along with other planning documents) with the will providing that assets not already held in the trust at the time of death will pour over to the trust after death. In other words, the trust itself is the beneficiary of the will.

It’s all going to depend on if he had any planning in place, and if so, whether anyone contests the planning documents (i.e. maybe claiming that Michael was unduly influenced or did not have sufficient capacity to understand and execute the docs).

As for guardianship, usually the surviving parent will be the guardian of the kids, regardless of whatever the dead parent’s wishes were. It’s possible, though, that parental rights may have been or may be terminated or that there may be some other issue regarding the surviving parent which prevents this. Right now, grandma only has temporary guardianship, so it’s likely that the judge is waiting for things to hash out – see who asserts what rights, what documents turn up.

ETA: Just because Jackson’s kids are minors does not remove their right to inherit. Usually, it just means that someone will be appointed to manage their inheritance for them until they come of age. Again, this assumes Jackson’s estate planning does not provide otherwise.

First of all it it not unheard of for a parent to select one child from his/her household to which they are most abusive. For some reason that child triggers something in the parent that causes them to get most, if not all of the torment. (It wouldn’t be beyond belief that both LaToya and Janet were correct about their respective relationships with their father either)

In this interview with the BBC Joe Jackson admits to “whipping” Michael with a belts and a switch, but says he didn’t beat him because he never used a stick – and sticks are what you use for a beating. (he also says he “can’t stand” gays).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3268133.stm

This is a notated quote from Wikipedia (which makes it questionable, I know)
In one altercation ‘” later recalled by Marlon Jackson – Joseph held Michael upside down by one leg and “pummeled him over and over again with his hand, hitting him on his back and buttocks.”[7]

And let’s not forget Joe Jackson’s response to Michael saying on Oprah that he was so scared of his father that he would vomit when he showed up at rehearsals. Interviewed later on that same show, Joe Jackson said “‘If he was regurgitating he was regurgitating all the way to the bank.’ 

Nobody knows what will actually happen. Eventually it’s in the hands of a judge to sort it out. I don’t know that you can ever point out any other case to determine what will happen. Yes there are cases that went before, but ultimately it’s the interpretation of the law by the judge sitting on the case.

Yes, agreed. That is why I’m questioned the assumption that MJ’s parents will automatically get the estate just because MJ’s kids are minors. I don’t think anything is set in stone and it is open to interpretation. I think Janet is wealthy on her own and therefore will be the best person to look after the kids’ interests as no one would question her motives.

Ok I’m just gonna put this out there. Michael Jackson lived in some weird alternate reality where it was ok to have sleep overs with young boys and have a chimp as your best friend. Clearly Michael Jackson was a very strange man. I am not certain I believe Michael’s claims of abuse by his father.

You don’t have to believe him.

That is from an interview with Joe Jackson with the BBC from 2003.

Singer Jackson whipped by father

Jackson has accused his father of beating him
Michael Jackson’s father has told the BBC’s Louis Theroux he whipped his pop singer son as a child.
Joe Jackson is seen saying in a show to be seen on Sunday: “I whipped him with a switch and a belt. I never beat him. You beat someone with a stick.”

I try to find a video it is even more shocking if you see him say it without any emotion.

thanks tortoiseshelly for the explanation. It does seem like it is complicated. I don’t envy the judge that gets this case.

Nearly everyone who worked with the Jackson 5 when they were young has at some point or another mentioned the fact that those kids were stage-parented within an inch of their lives.

There is a reason that when many of them got to a certain age they fired Joe as their manager and basically emancipated themselves from him.

Joseph & Katherine lived the high life off the backs of those kids. I personally see no reason to believe they see Michael’s kids as anything other than their new meal ticket.

I am not certain I believe Michael’s claims of abuse by his father

I do believe him and I think the abuse was mental and physical. I also think that has a lot to do with why Michael is dead at 50 years old.

I do believe him and I think the abuse was mental and physical. I also think that has a lot to do with why Michael is dead at 50 years old.

Well and the freak that he later became doesn’t typically happen when one has a normal, healthy childhood.

In this interview with the BBC Joe Jackson admits to ‘whipping’  Michael with a belts and a switch, but says he didn’t beat him because he never used a stick – and sticks are what you use for a beating.
=======================================
Oh give me a break!

(he also says he ‘can’t stand’  gays).
=======================
What’s he trying to say? That Michael was gay?

Oh for goodness sakes. There is no doubt in my mind that Joseph abused Michael. I also think that although Michael was singled out, that the abuse wasn’t exclusive to him. You must also realize that by the time Janet came about they had started their climb, and Joe was not in the home that much as well….that’s another story entirely, but Joe admitted hitting him. In this country whether with a hand, or cord, or belt, if you use it against a child, it’s abuse. I think they all suffered both physical and mental, maybe even especially mentally at the hands of this man.

I am almost certain that neither Katherine, or Joe will inherit over the children. I believe they would come after the children, not before, will or no will. Hopefully Michael gave Joe a nickle, his Mom, though an enabler is another story. He adored her.

As for the abuse by Joe Jackson, this sentence is also posted on Marlon’s music myspace page.

http://www.myspace.com/marlonjacksonfans

Multiple family sources have said that Joseph would sometimes beat
Marlon for failing to dance as well as Michael. Joseph wanted to drop Marlon from the group, but mother Katherine Jackson insisted that he stay.

So that makes at least three of the Jackson kids who claim abuse.

So horribly fascinating. Now, the man had these huge assets in play–the vast music catalog that’s mortgaged to Sony, the real estate, the enormous bank loans from Bank of America. Wouldn’t those institutions have insisted on some sort of legal fallback in case of death? Wouldn’t they have insisted on reviewing some equivalent of Jackson’s will or trust arrangements, before loaning tens of millions of dollars to a guy who’s been visibly frail for a decade? Without knowing Jackson’s arrangements in the case of death, their loans would be in danger of being sucked away in a flash to the kids’ estate, the Jackson family or a host of debtors.

Anyone want to take bets that there are legal docs somewhere entitling Sony, Bank of America and other big players in the mess first cut from Michael’s assets? Cue enormous court battles. Those kids may be lucky if there’s anything left. Jackson’s belief that his stack of unreleased music will be a goldmine for the poor bewildered things sounds a little optimistic.

I also watched, “Living With Michael Jackson” and would like to know if any doctor or nurse would allow anyone to take a newly born baby home? Michael claimed that when his daughter, Paris was born he immediately took her home still covered with the placenta. He stated to the British journalist that he cleaned the baby himself.

How could this possibly happen? Paris had to be weighed and her APGAR score recorded. This is the physical examination of a newborn in the delivery room. A follow-up exam and score is done a short while later. It is my belief that Michael lied (or believed in his mind this happened). He was questioned twice about this because the baby cannot go home with placenta on her body.

If he lied about something so important as this, what else did he lie about?

Good lord here comes Reverend Al – you know the circus is in town.

:lol_tb:

Grammie Kari, I haven’t seen the interview you referenced, but I think he was confusing his terms. The placenta is attatched by the umbilical cord and is not ‘washed off’. I’m thinking he was referring to vernix, the white creamy “waterproof” coating on a babie’s skin. Term babies often have very little, and it is sometimes tough to just wipe off. Often times babies are not given their first full bath until they are taken home, which is sometimes just a few hours after birth.

So that makes at least three of the Jackson kids who claim abuse.

Yes. Its a sure thing Joe Jackson was emotionally and physically abusive. It just affected Michael moreso than the other children. That is why I’ll be shocked if the court gives those kids to Katherine and Joe. They didn’t do well with their own kids. Why allow them to abuse and mess up a whole new generation?

Thank you, DespiteMyself, for reminding me about the vernix. It’s been awhile, but I did have three children. :redface_wp: I find it hard to believe the doctor let Micahel take Paris home shortly after she was born. The hospital was taking a big risk.

One may be critical or say negative things about Michael’s personal life; however, this does not mean he isn’t respected for the fantastic work he did as a musician and dancer. Truly, he was an icon in the entertainment arena.

Undercooked that is what Michael Hutchence did. His family was very unhappy when they found out they didn’t get much when he was dead and claimed his lawyers and advisors ripped him off. Hard to say if that was the case but apparently Michael established a trust for Tiger Lily and he had already moved assets into it so the family couldn’t touch them and that trust receives all his royalties – his financial advisor claims he didn’t want his family to get a penny not even Paula Yates, just Tiger Lily. Given his family, except his Dad, who didn’t care or need the money, it is highly believable. We will see when Tiger Lily comes of age in a few years just who was telling the truth. Of course there was no issue about a will there.

I think he has to have a will but it is possible it is outdated given his financial struggles. But given he seemed to love his children very much, hard to believe he wouldn’t have changed his will with each adoption or he did arrange everything already so a will wasn’t as necessary. One would think the slimeballs around him would have made sure he had a will and they were cut in for a piece. Might be a good reason if the will exists and someone like his lawyer for that purpose is not coming forward yet.

Tortoiseshelly here is a question – if Michael moved assets into a trust or a number of trusts after his financial situation was clearly in trouble, couldn’t that trust be attacked as an attempt to evade creditors – I know in Ontario that if you convey property with the primary intent to evade creditors that transfer of property can be challenged by creditors and be declared invalid or void.

Yes people with or without a will these is the kind of thing lawyers dream about, a big old legal mess with great fee potential and I think the estate lawyers always get the first cut.

lavender1960 says but apparently Michael established a trust for Tiger Lily
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Who is Tiger Lily?

Well, apparently reports are now saying Michael did have a will, and divided his estate up among his children, mother, and several charities. I’m sure father Joe will fight this in court…… although, hopefully the Will will prevail. I wonder who he wants to have his children? I guess we will find out once John Branca (MJ’s attorney) files the Will.

I prefer to wait to hear from someone with the authority to speak on MJ’s behalf concerning a will or lack thereof before I worry too much about the children. But obviously no will would be a devastating lapse of parental responsibility. Surely any reputable lawyer would have insisted on it, right? Sigh … such a sad ending for little Michael. His parents weren’t worthy of drinking his dirty bathwater, never mind raising him or his children. So often great art comes from great pain, but sometimes you have to wonder if it was worth it.

First of all it it not unheard of for a parent to select one child from his/her household to which they are most abusive. For some reason that child triggers something in the parent that causes them to get most, if not all of the torment.

Not only is it not unheard of. It’s so common as to be more the rule than the exception, I believe. … And it doesn’t mean that the parent actually consciously intended to hurt that child. The parent gets triggered and freaks out, the parent convinces him or herself that it’s for the child’s benefit. Etc. Etc. You can believe that Michael was abused without having to believe that his father was a consciously rotten person. All you have to be to abuse a child is be a messed-up person in some way.

Honestly, given MJ’s increasingly disturbed behavior as an adult, I can’t imagine that he didn’t have his childhood taken from him in several ways, including various kinds of abuse. And mental abuse — which, again, parents can inflict without in the least “intending” to in any conscious way (though some do do it intentionally, of course) — leaves even worse scars than physical abuse, in many cases.

And when you take someone’s normal childhood — and then that person gets access to a lot of fame and money as an adult, with all the power but also the probably terrifying public interest in them that that entails … well, this is the way they may end up.

Having the power and the motivation to act on the various fantasies and thwarted impulses that accumulated during the blighted childhood and, for MJ especially, continued accumulating during the teen and young adult years that he spent fanatically devoted to making his amazing performance art. And if he actually was gay, then even more unacknowledged crap certainly accumulated.

This is just a tragic, tragic story, to me. The price that’s paid for amazing art is sometimes just too high, I think. Especially when that art is made by children.

Yup, MJ’s children are his next of kin, but they are minors, so they don’t count in a court of law His next next of kin would be his parents. Gawd, I freaking hope he has a will. I just don’t think he does, because I don’t think he gave a thought to anybody but himself

Since this thread started, a will has been announced. But even if there had been no will, the children would be entitled to the estate, not MJ’s parents. However, Katherine has been included in the alleged will. Not Joe. Yes, Joe did abuse MJ and as the most sensitive of the children it affected MJ more, plus his sensitivity probably triggered Joe’s rage. In those days hitting your kids with a switch was not that uncommon and not considered taboo like it is today. But I’m not excusing Joe, he is the exact opposite of MJ, totally insensitive IMO.

Children in this country are not considered property to be left to people. Therefore, even if MJ has stipulated a preference, the court will have the last say. And it is highly unlikely that Katherine and Joe will be awarded permanent custody if for no other reason than their age, they are way to old to raise children and might not survive long enough to finish the job which would put the children in needless jeopardy of being traumatized yet again. Whoever “gets” the children will receive money from the estate to cover expenses so the court needs to make sure their estate is guarded. MJ died in debt, but has more assets than debt, plus the money continues to flow in.

Incidentally a California court appointed psychologist evaluated MJ during “his troubles” and concluded that he did not fit the profile of a pedophile, but had retreated to the world of a ten year old. This explains a lot. I try not to judge MJ; he was a musical genius with mental issues. I’m just trying to remember him by his music. Rest in peace, MJ.

Incidentally a California court appointed psychologist evaluated MJ during ‘his troubles’  and concluded that he did not fit the profile of a pedophile, but had retreated to the world of a ten year old. This explains a lot. I try not to judge MJ; he was a musical genius with mental issues. I’m just trying to remember him by his music. Rest in peace, MJ.

Exactly.