Michael Jackson’s three children were given a new guardian in an escalating power struggle within the famous musical family involving the singer’s multimillion-dollar estate and the well-being of his elderly mother Katherine Jackson.
The 82-year-old children’s grandmother Katherine Jackson has been their guardian since Michael Jackson’s death three years ago. LA Superior Court judge Mitchell Beckloff gave temporary guardianship of the Michael Jackson’s three children to their cousin Tito Jackson Jr., at his request, after a chaotic week of conflicting reports over the health and whereabouts of family matriarch Katherine Jackson.
LA Judge Mitchell Beckloff made the decision after concerns were raised over Katherine Jackson’s absence from the family. TJ Jackson, the son of Michael’s brother Tito, appeared in court and sought the temporary appointment. His lawyer said he was not trying to replace Katherine Jackson permanently.
The married 34-year-old TJ Jackson is known to be close to his cousins. The court heard that Prince Michael and Paris supported the appointment. The youngest Michael Jackson’s child Blanket was not asked.
Michael Jackson kids get new guardian in family power struggle
The appointment came after days of family turmoil, with a relative reporting Katherine Jackson missing before she was located safely with other family members in Arizona. Katherine Jackson has been the court-appointed guardian of Michael’s three children, Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket since their father the King of pop Michael Jackson died in June 2009. Police were called this week to break up an altercation at the home the children share with their grandmother.
Questions were raised at the Los Angeles hearing about whether Katherine Jackson was being held against her will, with Tito Jackson Jr. telling the court he had had a conversation with his grandmother in which she used strange phrases and her words were slurred. In addition to the change of guardian, Judge Mitchell Beckloff also ordered that the three siblings not be removed from the state of California.
Two Michael Jackson’s children, 15-year-old Prince and 14-year-old Paris comes from his relationship with his second wife Deborah Rowe, the third child, 10-year-old Blanket comes from a surrogate mother whose identity has never been revealed.
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