Custody deal for Jackson children
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday July 31, 2009
LOS ANGELES: A custody deal has been reached for Michael Jackson's children that will see the biological mother of the two eldest have parental rights and their grandmother retain permanent custody of all three, US media reported yesterday.Under the agreement, the pop star's mother, Katherine Jackson, "would get permanent custody of Michael's children €“ Prince [Michael, aged 12], Paris [aged 11], and Blanket [Prince Michael II, aged 7]," ABC News reported.Blanket's mother has never been identified.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 have visitation rights, but get no money beyond the spousal agreement already in place. This is reportedly worth $US8.5 million ($10.4 million).Quoting unnamed sources, the television network said the two older children now know that Ms Rowe is their mother."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.Although the deal has not been made public, ABC said on its Good Morning America show that all parties 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 court named Mrs Jackson as the children's temporary guardian. Ms Rowe, who was married to Jackson from 1996 to 1999, signed away her parental rights in 2001. At the time, she described Jackson as a "wonderful man ... a brilliant father".However, a judge reversed the order in 2004 after Ms Rowe cited concerns over Jackson's prosecution for child molestation. She 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, celebrating his daughter's fourth birthday. "I love my daddy so much. You're the best daddy in the whole world," Paris says.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
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