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A lawyer for Michael Jackson’s mother says she has reached a custody deal with the biological mother of two of the late U.S. pop star’s children.
Michael Jackson died June 25, leaving behind three children — 12-year-old Prince Michael, 11-year-old Paris and 7-year-old Prince Michael II, called “Blanket.” The two older children were born during Jackson’s brief marriage to his former nurse Debbie Rowe. The mother of Jackson’s younger son has not been identified in the media.
Jackson asked his mother in his will to raise his three children if anything happened to him.
After several weeks of talks, E! News said a deal has been made which paves the way for Jackson’s mother, Katherine, to gain full custody of the children, in exchange for visitation rights for Rowe.
Katherine Jackson’s attorney, L. Londell McMillan, made the announcement Thursday morning on CBS’s “Early Show.”
“It’s an agreement … for the best interests of the children. This is not a money deal. There’s no situation better for these children than to be raised and reared under the care of Mrs. Jackson,” E! News quoted McMillan as saying.
“The discussions were amicable and cooperative, rather than a give and take negotiation,” a source told ABC News. “Both sides cooperated to reach agreement based solely on the best interest of the children.”
Lawyers for Katherine Jackson and Rowe intend to bring the agreement to Los Angeles Superior Court Monday where it is expected to be approved, ABC News said.
Michael Jackson’s family secured temporary custody of the superstar’s children today.
The singer’s father Joe Jackson added that looking after the children was the family’s “first priority”.
