Legal Fight Looms Over Custody of Michael Jackson's Children

Michael Jackson has not yet been buried but already there are conflicting reports about whether the mother of his two eldest children will battle his family for custody of them and a chunk of 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.

The attorney representing Debbie Rowe, Jackson's ex-wife and the mother of Michael and Paris, has said that the former nurse will seek to look after the children.

The Mail on Sunday reports that Rowe, 50, is preparing to battle the singer's mother, Katherine Jackson, 79, for custody, and has told friends she will fight "tooth and nail" for their return.

But the Times reports that Rowe has indicated she will not mount a custody suit because she does not want to add to the distress of her son and daughter with a battle over their future.

Rowe relinquished parental rights to Prince and Paris, who were conceived through artificial insemination, in exchange for a £4.2m payoff a decade ago.

The entertainment website TMZ reports that all three of the children want to live with their grandparents, Joe and Katherine Jackson. Sources cited by the site, which says they have "no relationship" with Rowe, said they will stay living with the couple at their home in Los Angeles.

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 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.

The children's former nanny also could find herself embroiled in any custody battle after she said gave an interview claiming that they had a strained relationship with their father. In an extract of the interview, reported in the News of the World, she says of the children: "I used to hug and laugh with them. But when Michael was around they froze.

"I really miss Blanket. He makes me laugh. Only recently, he decided to do a concert for me. He was so cute, singing Billy Jean and other songs by his father.

"I was laughing so hard. Prince and Paris were playing around. It was such a happy moment. Then suddenly Michael walked in and the kids just looked frightened. Michael was so angry."

Jackson's unhappy relationship with his father could also come under the spotlight in a custody battle. In an interview with British TV journalist Martin Bashir, the singer said his father was a bully who emotionally and physically abused his sons. "If you didn't do it the right way, he would tear you up," he said.

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.

TMZ reports that Randy Jackson will take control over his brother's estate for the Jackson family. Leonard Rowe, the star's former manager, would also assist in this transition.