Judge: Jackson's Estate to Pay for Funeral

(AP)  Michael Jackson's estate will pay what are being called "extraordinary" expenses for the pop singer's funeral, attorneys and a judge said Wednesday.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff authorized the current administrators of Jackson's estate to pay for Jackson's funeral and interment, which are scheduled for Thursday evening.

Attorneys for Jackson's mother, Katherine, had asked the judge to sign off on the expenses, which have not been disclosed.

No one contested who would pay the costs, but Beckloff said he had concerns about whether Jackson's estate could afford it.

Jeryll Cohen, an attorney for the administrators of Jackson's estate, said the costs will be paid. She said the debt-ridden estate has enough cash to pay for the funeral.

"The expenses are extraordinary, however, Michael Jackson was extraordinary," Cohen said.

Few details about the service have been disclosed. Cohen said during the hearing that part of the reason it was so expensive was because 12 burial spaces were being bought.

Beckloff said normally, costs of a funeral would be paid by the estate after the service. But Jackson's family couldn't afford to pay the costs upfront and wait for reimbursement.

Jackson is scheduled to be interred in a mausoleum at Forest Lawn Glendale, which is about eight miles north of downtown Los Angeles. He will be placed in the Great Mausoleum, where he'll join Hollywood legends such as Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, W.C. Fields and Red Skelton, as well as "The Last Supper Window," a life-size stained glass recreation of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece.

[RickRexor]

Doing the funeral arrangements for my father was probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to get done. My father left with very little money and did not take the proper precautions before he pasted. As my wife and I started shopping around for funeral homes, I was shocked to find just how expensive that day would be. Luckily, I my brother heard about www.starlegacynetwork.com where I could get <a href="http://www.starlegacynetwork.com/caskets.htm">cheap caskets</a> of similar quality, but not as overpriced as some of funeral home were charging. As hard as this day was, giving my dad the funeral he deserved was one of the proudest moments of my life.

[jodyrae4]

RIP Michael

[White_Duck]

And there was a question about who should pay for this? Nothing in his status elevates him to a State Funeral. Look how much it has already cost LA. Take up a collection, if you must. But paying for this by other than the family should not even be considered.

[flolake]

Old man JAckso can buzz around in a Rolls Royce, fam had to have a gold plated casket and too many funeral services and bought 12 crypts at a time? And the family can't afford it?

What kind of logic do I routinely label this sort of shat as?

[woeisme1]

Well duh! Who else should pay for it?

[rightbehind]

I have no doubt that MJ paid as much or more than his share of taxes already. Probably considerably more than the judge. It's pathetic that they couldn't at least take care of funeral traffic for him. Somebody drive the vultures away please!

[pickaguitar1]

RIP Michael