Jackson's mother to raise his three children

Published on Monday 3 August 2009 22:04

A JUDGE has ruled that Michael Jackson's mother should raise his children.

Los Angeles Superior Court judge Mitchell Beckloff appointed Katherine Jackson as the permanent guardian of the singer's three children yesterday.

Mrs Jackson, 79, was named by her son as his first choice to raise his children in a 2002 will filed with the court.

She has been the only person to formally petition for custody of the children since Jackson's death on 25 June, 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 yesterday saw a last-minute objection by the singer's former dermatologist.

Mr Beckloff made a series of key rulings during the morning section of the hearing.

In addition to approving Mrs Jackson's guardianship, he also granted monthly allowances to her 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, Jackson's dermatologist, raised non-specific objections to the custody arrangements.

His lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said the objections 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 had concerns about the children's education and other day-to-day parenting issues.

Mr Beckloff ultimately determined that Dr Klein did not 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 reports that he is the biological father of Jackson's children, saying last month that "to the best of my knowledge" he is not.

Ms Rowe never formally petitioned for custody, but will be able to spend time with Jackson's two eldest children, to whom she gave birth while the couple were married in the late 1990s.