5 Big Jackson Questions ... Answered!

“Having a trust instead of putting the estate into a will is a prudent thing to have done because of the tax consequences.”


2. What are Debbie Rowe’s rights?

Rowe agreed to carry and give birth to Jackson’s children in a financial arrangement. Married to Jackson in 1996, she filed for divorce three years later, surrendering her parental rights. But she changed her mind, perhaps seeking more money from her ex-husband. An appeals court later found that losing her rights was done in error, and Rowe and Jackson entered an out-of-court settlement in 2006. This could be helpful since a court has already determined she has parental rights.

Rowe on Thursday stated that she would fight for the children, and also would fight for a restraing order to keep Jackson's father away from the kids. Her position may gain ground, despite claims that she had little to do with raising the kids because Jackson’s family lawyer, Diane Goodman said Monday night on CNN that that the singer and Rowe “are the two legal parents.”

Even so, a court might give the nod to Mrs. Jackson because Rowe has played almost no role in the upbringing of her son’s children.

“A court might find that nurture over nature is more important and it would be in the best interests of the child to live with their grandmother who has been a consistent figure in their lives,” Phillips, an author and prominent Los Angeles family law attorney, told TheWrap.

What this means is that any question about Jackson being the biological father or Rowe being the biological mother would not be contested by the singer’s attorney.

Rowe also said she did not expect to get custody of Prince Michael II, of who she is not the mother, but would be happy to take custody. Phillips told TheWrap, “The legal presumption is that keeping all three kids together would be in their best interests. Imagine what that poor child (Prince Michael II) would go through if he were separated from the others?”

3. What about Michael’s father, Joe?

It comes as no surprise that Jackson’s iron-fisted father, who is currently living in Las Vegas, apart from Katherine Jackson, was not mentioned in his son’s will. The two had a strained and stormy relationship for decades. Indeed, his father has used his increased media exposure since the death of his son to promote his new record company.

In the past, Michael had repeatedly criticized his father for beating and emotionally terrorizing him and his brothers during their childhood. The elder Jackson would carry a belt and beat his sons if they made any mistakes on stage or in rehearsals, Michael had claimed. It’s no wonder that the singer did not turn his children over to his father.

Such child rearing already has raised a flag with child welfare officials who would have to OK any level of guardianship -- the patriarch of the clan would have if he could pass a rigorous psychological test conducted by county officials.

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