Mom of 2 Jackson Kids Weighs Custody Fight

Debbie Rowe Tells TV Station She'd Undergo DNA Testing But Her Attorney Says She Hasn't Reached Final Decision on Custody

(CBS/AP)  Debbie Rowe, the mother of Michael Jackson's two oldest children, plans to fight for custody of the children, according to a report from KNBC in Los Angeles.

However, Rowe's attorney Eric George said that she has not reached a final decision concerning custody, CBS News has learned.

A judge on Thursday delayed a guardianship hearing for Jackson's children at the request of attorneys for Rowe and the singer's mother.

In his will, Jackson designates his mother, Katherine Jackson, to be the guardian of his two children, with longtime friend and singing superstar Diana Ross named as the next choice if his mother is unable or unwilling to care for the children, reports CBS News correspondent Priya David.

Rowe gave up her parental rights in 2001 and was paid a multi-million dollar settlement, reports CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy. At the time of Jackson's molestation trial in 2005 Rowe tried to regain her rights, but was paid another settlement.

"As far as Michael was concerned, Debbie was sort of a surrogate mother and that she was not to be involved in the children's lives," said CBS News consultant J. Randy Taraborelli.

But "the court has to give preference to the parent, the biological parent; however if that is not in the best interest of the child, the court does not have to follow that," Charlotte Goldberg of Loyola Law School told CBS News earlier this week.

Rowe did not immediately come forward following Jackson's death. But she told KNBC Thursday that she is willing to undergo DNA testing to prove that she is the biological mother of Michael Joseph Jr. (also known as Prince Michael), 12 and Paris Michael Katherine, 11.

Rowe is not the mother of Jackson's third child, Prince Michael II (also known as Blanket), 7. She said she hoped to keep the children together and would be willing to take custody of Blanket as well, but admitted that outcome was unlikely.

Rowe was married to Jackson for three years beginning in 1996. Jackson said in his will that he had intentionally left Rowe out.

Katherine Jackson has been named the temporary guardian of the children, and they are reported to currently be with her at the family compound in Encino, Calif.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles officials are holding closed-door talks about a possible event for Michael Jackson on Tuesday at a downtown arena, a person with knowledge of the situation said.

The event would take place at the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers, said the person who wasn't authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

Before his death Michael Jackson had been rehearsing at the Staples Center for 50 shows he was planning to put on in London. Today, the promoters released footage of Jackson's final rehearsal and in it he looks ready to make a comeback, reports CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy.

Watch video of Michael Jackson rehearsing at the Staples Center two days before he died.

AEG, the company that runs the Staples Center, was also producing Jackson's London concerts, reports Tracy. They offered the venue to the Jackson family for a memorial.

Today the director of those planned summer shows says Michael Jackson's final rehearsal was worthy of the king of pop, reports Tracy.

"It was just an incredible night," said Kenny Ortega. "He was electric, he was happy, he was invested. It was inspirational to be in this space. As it always was when he was here and he was just, you know, he was rocking the house."

[michaelsestate]

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0701091mjwill1.html
If Debbie Rowe takes the 2 kids she is not allowed compensation because she breach have original agreement with Michael Jackson.
Look at the will, Senethra

[teresabairdlive]

May Michael Jackson R.I.P. I have been reading all of these comments and there are a lot of good and bad things here.First of all let me say that Michael Jackson was a very talented artist! As for his children, I never knew you could will your children to anyone!But if you all aren't happy with his mom or Debbie what about Dianna Ross? Was she not mentioned there?I am sure it will all work out in the end for the children. They are after all Michael Jackson's kids and the people ( fans ) will be watching all that goes on with them that is for sure. Also I am sure his brother's and sister will be there for them. After all they are a Jackson aren't they? Every family has problems but aren't aired in public... maybe some of his family problems were really not as bad as we were told they were. Who knows? But I really think and hope that all this should be put to rest soon, for Michael can't rest untill it is! Good-bye Michael.

[orsands]

The best case scenario would be for the children to be placed with Debbie Rowe and for to her hire Grace, the kid's ex-nanny to help her out full time to ease the transition. Grace has practically raised all three of those kids and has always been a stabilizing influence for them.
Katherine and Joe had their opportunity to raise their own children and in the words of their own children-they failed miserably. Joe beat them almost sadistically and Katherine failed to protect them. She is just as much to blame as Joe for the abuse, if not more because she could have him arrested or she could have left with the kids. Instead she chose to stay and turn her head away whenever Joe abuse their kids. Joe probably treated her just as bad. He had multiple affairs and at least one child out of wedlock. Katherine filed for divorce twice but was 'talked out of it" and instead has stayed married to that jerk all these years. When a couple is married and one gets custody-doesn't it stand to reason the Joe gets custody by default also? Does anyone really think Michael wanted his children to be raised by his father?
The last thing Michael's children need is to lose another caretaker and Katherine is almost 80yr of age. If she would happen to pass away-who would they be shipped off to next? Janet? LaToya?
Debbie Rowe never sought the spotlight and purposely withdrew from the limelight. And lots of women act as surrogates for infertile couples or people who want to adopt-so why is she being trashed for doing the same? Debbie made a promise to Michael that she would step back and let him raise the children. She never tried to renegotiate that deal and force herself on those kids. She obviously thought that Michael was going to be a very devoted and loving parent and she put their needs above hers. Letting her raise those children is definitely the best case scenario at this time.

[albert571]

All three childern Must stay together and the mother of the two should have prioraty over anyone ! The Jackson family are in the public eye too much and the children deserve a normal life or as close to normal as possible.These children are not even Michaels by blood they were just another purchase that the very wealthy Michael Jackson made.Look at these kids the do not remotley resemble a Jackson (plus they are white and didn't pay for a chemical peel)so every one needs to back up and leave the mother alone and just be a mom.As far as the money (if there is any left)it should be put in a trust fund for the kids or in an account that is opened in Michaels honor for any other blacks who want a chemical peel and can't afford to pay for it,now this would be limited to about a thousand peels per year.And I guess they would have to prove they spent the money where they said it was spent.

[obomba1]

I think the kids should go to Hulk Hogan. But first Hulk has to beat the crap out of Joe Jackson. LOL

[dsmffar]

Wars going on, people being killed, and oh yes ~ many others who were great people have died ~ Michael should already have grass growing on his grave by now. How about moving on now and let people who want to mourn, mourn....God Bless You all but put all that effort into doing good deeds. He was just a man himself who did a few good things but all good things come to an end and he's dead. Gees, get on to things of more importance in and to the world. Inform us of todays news, things like our soldiers being killed, they are who we should be so sad about!

[Meg003]

Except for you, of course.

[kantsleep]

You know, my first thought was "Can anyone spell "MONEY"? but after reading about how dyfunctional this family is, I began to wonder if Debbie Rowe just figured it was too much of a uphill battle" to get custody with Micheal's millions. All in all it should be quite a fight. If anything, those kids should be kept away from that "dirtbag" Joe Jackson. Then again , maybe Debbie just wants to add a few more "Zeros" to her bank account and this is the last chance she'll get.

[Thalia-9]

by houshall July 2, 2009 2:41 PM PDT
She should get the children as she is the biological mother. End of story.

Really? Wow. So "Just because" a parent is the biological parent in any given circumstance, means they should get custody automatically, end of story??

[albert571]

Yes it in a nutshell!

[Meg003]

It sounds as though she believed the children were fine with Michael, but she does not think they will be fine with their grandfather. Maybe she is moving to get some kind of injunction against the kids ever being alone with Joe if they live with their grandmother. If she truly believes, from what Michael told her, that they should not be alone with their grandfather, then she is doing the right thing.

[BrookJ123]

if "biology" makes you a parent...then i'm going to stand in my garage and call myself a corvette.

[vielmann]

There are many people who are biological parents, but will never have legal custody of the children. Being a biological parent doesn't qualify a person to be a parent, unless they have been actively involved from the beginning. She hasn't.

[houshall]

She should get the children as she is the biological mother. End of story.

[gravyboat4000]

Actually, she's not the biological mother. She gave birth to them, but she was a paid surrogate at the time, donor eggs were used in conjunction with donor sperm. Niether one of them are,"biological", parents to these kids.


And she signed away her parental rights, her plan was not to be part of their lives. These kids don't even know her at this point in their lives.

But they know Gramma Jackson, very well.

Gramma should keep them, and keep the 3 of them together. For Rowe to get custody of the two older kids, therefore splitting them up from their younger sibbling, also the product of donated sperm and eggs, would be tragic.

[vielmann]

Being the biological mother doesn't qualify a person to be a parent. End of story. She's not qualified.

[displeased]

The biological parents aren't always the best choice.

[saturn05]

I really thought she would stay out of this. She herself said she was nothing more than a vessel for MJ to have kids. We all know their marriage was for payoff and I bet you she received compensation for having the kids. She doesn't even know these kids. So know they are going to lose the only family they know because of her skanky greed. I would sue her ass off if there was any kind of agreement made that she had nothing to do with the children or would not have any connection to them. What scum comes out of the woodwork when the rich and famous die. I want the Jackson family to win this one. They maybe strange, but they are family.

[airboatboy]

They should put the kids in the sanctuary with Bubbles.

[mahdeealoo]

Michael knew something about Rowe that he didn't want the children to be with her. And from Rowe's side...kaching $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Money talks.

[my5200-2009]

What kind of mother completely gives up her kids?
The kind that takes money in exchange for her kids. If someone will offer her more money she will give up the kids again.

[GETITRIGHT9]

THIS WOMAN JUST WANTS ANOTHER CHECK. I MEAN SHE GAVE UP ALL OF RIGHTS TO THEM FOR A PAYDAY. SHE WAS MARRIED JUST TO HAVE THOSE CHILDREN FOR HIM AND THEN SHE GOT HER MONEY AND LEFT NEVER TO LOOK BACK AT THEM AND NOW SHE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT TAKING CUSTODY OF HER CHILDREN SHE DON'T KNOW THEM AND THEY DON'T KNOW HER EITHER TELL HER TO GO BACK UNDER THE ROCK THAT SHE CAME FROM UNDER---- MOMMA JACKSON AND DIANNA ROSS ARE MORE THAN QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO RAISE THOSE CHILDREN WITH THE LOVE THAT MJ WOULD LIKE THEM TO HAVE

[displeased]

He left her out of the will for a reason. What's the point of having a will if some judge is going to refurbish it. His choices should stand, that is if his mother or Diana wants them. And yes, they should not be separated, especially if the biological mother is doing this out of her best interest instead of the children's.

[Thalia-9]

Yup. Aside from that, his rehersal video was awesome and I'm not even a fan. While I didn't dislike his music, just not my genre of choice to follow or purchase - The video showed he still had amazing talent to dance and sing and it's too bad he was too mentally unstable to carry on with it after the whole trial mess - (and no. I don't know if he was guilty or innocent in an absolute sense - wasn't there as an eyewitness, he was acquitted, so it's not for me to judge any further)
All I can do is give credit where it's due, and even though it wasn't my style of music, he was one of the most talented entertainers in his field. It's a shame Debbie Rowe is considering going against his wishes when she's publicly stated time and time again, that "I am not their mother".

[erasmus111]

"She said she hoped to keep the children together and would be willing to take custody of Blanket as well, but admitted that outcome was unlikely."


Those children should NOT be separated.

[sunspro]

I agree. The kids should stay together. Their lives will have many challenges; they should be able to look to one another for support.

[erasmus111]

Debbie Rowe should be the last person to get these kids. What kind of mother completely gives up her kids? And wouldn't you think that if she REALLY cared about those children, she would have come forward IMMEDIATELY after he died?