Michael Jackson is Gone, But Questions About Children Remain

Michael Jackson’s death last Thursday created headlines the likes of which the entertainment media hasn’t seen in many years, but in the aftermath of all the hype, the question still remains – what will happen to Jackson’s children? The first question is how Jackson’s three children are dealing with the death of their father, though a potential custody issue exists as well. Debbie Rowe was Jackson’s wife from 1996 to 1999 and is the mother of Prince Michael, 12 years old, and Paris, who is 11. Prince Michael II, who goes by the nickname "Blanket" is 7 years old and was born through surrogacy.

At this point, according to a former lawyer for Jackson Brian Oxman, Michael’s mother Katherine is most likely to care for the children in the immediate term. Said Oxman, Probably Mrs. Jackson will take care of them, she loves them dearly. [They] are currently still in L.A. and with a nanny." In a separate interview, Oxman noted that, "I suspect that the death of Michael Jackson is only the beginning of the legal battles over not only his property, but also his children."

It seems likely that Rowe would seek custody of Prince Michael and Paris, though it remains unclear if Jackson specified a guardian for his children in a will. The three Jackson children have lived all over the world during their lives, including at Neverland Ranch, Ireland and Bahrain. Mark Lester, the children’s godfather, noted that even though the Jackson family often has had a difficult relationship with one another, the recent tragedy represents an opportunity for them to come together. Said Lester, "The Jackson family is a very large family, and, you know, in times of need families get together and put aside all the differences."