Custody Case of MJ’s Kids Postponed

I’m not really too sure what’s going on with the custody case of Michael Jackson’s kids. I’m not too sure anyone is. Last I had heard, Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, was given temporary custody and it was to remain that way until another hearing in August, when a more permanent decision would be made. Maybe when Michael Jackson’s will was found, and in it he deemed his mother as the guardian of the children another hearing was scheduled to make that legally permanent. I’m not sure what happened really but apparently, there was going to be a hearing on Monday, July 13, and that has now been postponed to the following Monday, July 20. When the July 13 date came into play is where I get confused.

What confuses me even more is that there’s conflicting stories on the side of Debbie Rowe, two of the children’s biological mother. While it looked at first that she was going to fight for ‘her kids’, her attorney has also come out with statements that she remains undecided as to whether or not she wants to pursue it. Add to that the fact that Rowe has told a close friend - a close, named friend - that she does want the kids, and who knows what’s going on or what’s going to happen! See if you can sort it out for yourself. From People,

“A custody hearing for temporary guardianship of Michael Jackson’s children scheduled for Monday has been rescheduled for July 20 at the request of Katherine Jackson and Debbie Rowe, according to court officials.

“All prior orders remain in full force and effect, with Katherine Jackson as temporary guardian of the children,” according to a Los Angeles Superior Court statement released Friday afternoon.

Michael Jackson’s kids – Prince Michael I, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II (Blanket), 7 – have been living with their grandmother, Katherine, and staying at her Encino, Calif., home since the death of the pop icon on June 25.

Rowe, who is the biological mother of Prince and Paris, has not filed a petition for temporary guardianship, says a courthouse spokesperson. Blanket’s mother has never been identified.

Last week, Rowe’s attorney Eric George, said, “The truth is that Debbie has not reached a final decision concerning the pending custody proceedings.”

This came on the heels of Rowe telling her former attorney and close friend Iris Finsilver that she intended to pursue custody. “Frankly, she won’t have to fight for them, ” Finsilver told PEOPLE. “She is the children’s biological mother. She loves her children.”

But Jackson’s mother, Katherine, was named the guardian of his three children in his will, which was revealed last week. A source close to the family says of the Jacksons: “They will fight.”

There are many problems with this. The fact that anyone considers Debbie Rowe a fit mother for those children disturbs me. People who make good mothers don’t sell their children for millions of dollars, which is what she did when she signed away her maternal rights for a lump sum. The fact that anyone would think that Debbie Rowe actually loves these children also disturbs me. How can you love children that you don’t even know and have had no contact with over the past 10 years?

Another disturbing thought that I’m just throwing out there - Katherine Jackson will most likely be made the permanent and legal guardian of these children. Debbie has no case and it was in Michael’s will, which seems to seal the deal for me. But what no one seems to be questioning is whether or not Katherine will make a good guardian. Every time I hear about it, I can’t help but think that this was the same woman who allowed her own children, Michael especially, to be abused by his father - her husband. She never left him and obviously, she allowed these things to happen.

There really is no good answer. Unfortunately, I think that these kids will be screwed up for a very, very long time.

Michael Jackson’s Mom Gets Temporary Custody

The question of who will get Michael Jackson’s kids has been quickly, if only temporarily, resolved. The children, Prince, Paris, and Blanket, have been being looked after by Michael Jackson’s parents, Katherine and Joseph Jackson and Katherine had made a request to the courts that she be granted custody. The courts granted her wish yesterday by giving her temporary custody until the next hearing, which will be held on August 3.

What this mostly means is that the children will not be going to Debbie Rowe, who is the biological mother of Prince and Paris. Even though Debbie accepted a massive payout 10 years ago to give up all maternal rights, she had still expressed interest in taking the children to live with her now. I had originally thought that Debbie may be the best choice simply because Katherine is an elderly woman and may not be able to care for small children, even in just a couple of years.  But, I stand corrected. The woman has obviously proven that she can take care of the kids and of course, no one wants to make them any more unsettled than they already are. From US,

“Katherine Jackson was granted temporary guardianship of Michael Jackson’s three children today in Los Angeles Superior Court, Usmagazine.com has confirmed.

A hearing is set for Aug. 3 to determine if she’ll become their permanent guardian.
Judge Mitchell Beckloff rejected Katherine’s request to serve as the temporary guardian of the children’s estate.

TMZ.com first reported the news Monday.

Katherine Jackson filed a petition Monday asking the court to appoint her as guardian of Jackson’s three children. The petition states the kids have “no relationship with their biological mother,” Debbie Rowe, according to the site.

Michael has two children with ex Rowe –Prince, 12, and Paris, 11. His third child, Prince Michael II, 7, was born to a surrogate (the mother’s identity was never revealed). The court filings Monday list her whereabouts as “unknown.”
Us confirmed last week that the children have been staying with Katherine at the family’s Encino, Calif., estate since their father’s June 25 death.

On Monday’s Today show, the Jacksons’ attorney Londell McMillan said there isn’t “anybody who thinks that there is someone better” than Katherine Jackson to have custody.

Said McMillan, “She is a very loving host of other grandchildren.”

Over the weekend, Katherine was spotted at a Los Angeles Target stocking up on toys, sleeping bags and other supplies.

McMillan added that the family hasn’t heard from Rowe, who gave up her custody rights to the children after she and Jackson divorced in 1999.
In a statement over the weekend, Rowe’s attorney, Marta Almli, said: “Ms. Rowe’s only thoughts at this time have been regarding the devastating loss Michael’s family has suffered. Ms. Rowe requests that Michael’s family, and particularly the children, be spared such harmful, sensationalist speculation and that they be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace.”

So from the sounds of it, Debbie Rowe may have never even wanted custody rights. I mean, if they can’t even find her, it’s going to be kind of hard to let the kids go live with her. And from her statement, it doesn’t sound as though she’s going after the kids. She doesn’t even mention anything like they should be with their biological parent. I would assume that the next hearing would be to make this decision permanent and that the month’s wait is really just an unofficial waiting period. What I’m most surprised about in all of this is that these kinds of proceedings are even necessary. Did Michael not leave a will? And did he not within that will state where he wants his children to go? I find it hard to believe that someone with so many assets, and so many details that would be left up in the air should he pass, wouldn’t have a will that would specifically state where the children are to go. These are questions that leave me puzzled.