Jackson's mother wins permanent custody of children

A judge today ruled that Michael Jackson’s mother should raise the King of Pop’s children.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff appointed Katherine Jackson as the permanent guardian of the singer’s three children.

Mrs Jackson was named by her son as his first choice to raise his children in a 2002 will filed with the court. The 79-year-old is the only person to formally petition for custody of the children since Jackson’s death on June 25, aged 50.

Mrs Jackson and her son’s ex-wife Deborah Rowe reached a custody agreement last week.

The three children, who range in age from seven to 12, have been living with Mrs Jackson at the family’s home in the San Fernando Valley in California since their father’s death.

The two eldest children signed declarations apparently indicating they wanted to remain with Mrs Jackson.

The hearing today saw a last-minute objection by the pop icon’s former dermatologist.

Judge Mitchell Beckloff made a series of key rulings during the morning section of the hearing, which was to reconvene after a short break. In addition to approving Katherine Jackson’s guardianship, he also granted monthly allowances to the 79-year-old and the three young grandchildren she is now charged with raising.

The ruling came after a few tense moments in which an lawyer for Beverly Hills doctor Arnold Klein, Michael Jackson’s long-time dermatologist, raised non-specific objections to the custody arrangements. The lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said they were based on the doctor’s long-term relationship with the singer and his children.

“Legally, he is not a presumed parent,” Mr Kaplan said. He said Dr Klein, Jackson’s long-time dermatologist, had concerns about the children’s education and other day-to-day parenting issues.

Judge Beckloff ultimately determined Dr Klein didn’t have legal standing to object to the care of Jackson’s children, but said he could raise objections later if he wanted to. Dr Klein has repeatedly denied tabloid reports that he is the biological father of Jackson’s children, saying last month on Larry King Live that “to the best of my knowledge” he is not.

Katherine Jackson’s approval as permanent guardian is in accordance with her son’s wishes, who named her in a 2002 will as the person he wanted to raise his children, who range in ages from 7 to 12, if he died.

Ms Rowe never formally petitioned for custody, but will receive some visits with Jackson’s two oldest children, to whom she gave birth while the couple was married in the late 1990s.

Rowe did not appear in court today.

It is unclear how much money Katherine Jackson and her grandchildren will receive in allowance from the singer’s estate. Judge Beckloff did not state the figures in court and indicated he was likely to seal those details if lawyers asked him to do so.

The proposed figures have been redacted from court filings so far.

Judge Beckloff did trim the amount the three children will receive, saying that there appeared to be some duplication between the expenses Katherine Jackson listed and those listed for the children.