The mother of late pop singer Michael Jackson has been named the permanent custodian of his children, after a series of rulings at a Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday.
In addition to settling the guardianship issue, Judge Mitchell Beckloff also awarded the 79-year-old matriarch and three grandchildren with monthly stipends.
The decision by Beckloff to make Katherine Jackson the children's permanent guardian fits with her son's wishes. In 2002, Jackson named his mother in his will as the person he wanted to raise his three children. She was the only person to formally petition for custody.
Beckloff indicated that the singer's two oldest children, 12-year-old Prince Michael and 10-year-old Paris Michael, had filed declarations stating who they wished to be raised by. But he didn't indicate who they chose.
The rulings came after the late singer's former dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein, raised a surprise objection to the custody arrangements. Klein's lawyer said the objection was based on the doctor's long-term relationship with Jackson and his children.
Klein has denied tabloid reports that he's the children's biological father. On "Larry King Live" last month, he said he did not father the children, to the best of his knowledge. However, Beckloff said Klein didn't have legal standing to make an objection.
The judge also approved an agreement that Katherine Jackson reached with her son's ex-wife, 50-year-old Deborah Rowe, last week regarding custody rights. Although she never petitioned for custody, Rowe will be allowed to visit Jackson's two oldest children, to whom she gave birth while the couple was married in the late 1990s.
The amount of allowance Katherine Jackson and the three children will receive has not been made public. But Beckloff did scale back what the children would get, citing overlap between the expenses identified by Katherine Jackson and those listed on behalf of the children.
The judge was also expected to rule Monday on whether Katherine Jackson can challenge the two men administering her son's estate. John Branca, an attorney, and John McClain, a music executive, were named as co-executors in Jackson's 2002 will. They have allegedly received millions of dollars from the singer's assets, court filings suggest.
Under the terms of Jackson's will, 40 per cent of his estate goes to Katherine Jackson, 40 per cent goes to his children and 20 per cent goes to a variety of charities.
More than 20 attorneys representing a range of interests attended the hearing. Sony/ATV, concert promoter AEG Live and Columbia Pictures were among the companies that sent legal representation.
Several of Jackson's siblings also attended the hearing.
With files from The Associated Press
