Legal Fight Looms Over the Custody of Michael Jackson's Children

Michael Jackson has been dead for barely 48 hours but already battle lines are being drawn for a fight over custody of his children and his estate.

Jackson's three children, Michael Joseph, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael, 7, led apparently bizarre lives, often only appearing in public wearing masks. Now the mother of the oldest two, Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe, is reportedly considering claiming custody of the kids, which would likely come with a good chunk of the singer's estate as child support. Rowe's attorney, Iris Finsilver, has stated that her client will seek to look after the children.

But the issue is complex. The two children were the subject of legal proceedings after Jackson and Rowe's divorce in 1999. In 2005 a judge who had granted Jackson sole custody reversed his decision over a technicality. Though court papers exist in which Rowe waives her right to the children, his death could complicate the issue.

Jackson's family says his mother Katherine has been named the sole legal guardian of the children in Jackson's will. All three children are currently with Katherine Jackson. Sources close to the family said yesterday the children want to stay with their grandparents, specifically Katherine.

Jackson's youngest child was born using a surrogate mother whose identity has never been revealed. Legal steps to prevent her taking custody of that child are likely to have been taken, but it is still possible that she could launch a custody battle. A fight is also looming over the division of Jackson's estate. Although he was beset by money troubles in the last years of his life, it's believed that the singer still died with millions of dollars locked away.