Jackson children in custody deal

31 Jul 2009, 7:00 am   -   Source: AFP/SBS
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Paris Jackson paid a tearful tribute to her father at his memorial service last month

Paris Jackson paid a tearful tribute to her father at his memorial service last month

A custody deal has been reached for Michael Jackson's children that would see the biological mother of the two eldest earn parental rights.

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A custody deal has been reached for Michael Jackson's children that would see the biological mother of the two eldest earn parental rights and their grandmother retain permanent custody of all three, US media report.

Under the agreement the pop star's mother Katherine Jackson "would get permanent custody of Michael's children - Prince (Michael, 12), Paris (11) and Blanket" (Prince Michael II, 7), ABC
News reported.

Jackson's ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, who has said she planned to fight for custody of her two children "will retain her parental rights but she agrees not to make a claim for custody," NBC News reported on its Today show.

Rowe will obtain visitation rights but no money beyond the spousal agreement already in place. This is reportedly worth some $US8.5 million ($A10.41 million).

Quoting unnamed sources, the television network said the two older children now know that Rowe is their mother.

"In fact as a central part of the agreement they'll begin to have a relationship with her, now that their father is dead," it added noting that a child psychologist would supervise the process.

Court hearing set for Monday

Blanket's mother has never been identified.

Although the deal has not been made public, ABC said on its "Good Morning America" show that all parties implicated in the custody agreement would appear in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday and that the judge was expected to approve the deal.

On June 29 a Los Angeles court named Katherine Jackson as the temporary guardian of the three children.

Rowe, who was married to Jackson from 1996 to 1999, signed away her parental rights to her two children in 2001. At the time she described Jackson as a "wonderful man... a brilliant father."

However a Los Angeles judge reversed the order in 2004 after Rowe cited concerns over publicity related to Jackson's prosecution for child molestation. Rowe later settled the case reportedly securing visitation rights.

NBC also broadcast a rare home video shot in 2002 that showed Jackson playing at his Neverland Ranch with his children during his daughter's fourth birthday.

"I love my daddy so much. You're the best daddy in the whole world," Paris said in the video, a statement echoed by the now 11-year-old Paris at Jackson's memorial service last month.



 

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