Michael Jackson's Family Battling For Control Of Estate

Singer's family to face off against executors named in will.

By Gil Kaufman

As they prepare for the singer's public memorial on Tuesday at Los Angeles' Staples Center, some members of Michael Jackson's family will be busy battling for control of the King of Pop's estate in court on Monday (July 6).

According to The Associated Press, MJ's family will be in a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday asking a judge to delay a hearing to designate two of Jackson's longtime advisors as the temporary administrators of his estate.

An unnamed person reportedly close to the Jacksons told the news service that the family is seeking more time to see if another will emerges — so far, one from 2002 has been discovered that equally splits the proceeds of Jackson's estate between his mother and three young children, with a smaller portion going to unnamed charities — as well as to give the family time to coordinate Tuesday's memorial service.

Longtime Jackson manager John Branca and music industry veteran John McClain were designated as the administrators of Jackson's estate in the singer's five-page will, charged with helping to coordinate the transition of his assets into a private trust. So far, Jackson's mother, Katherine, has been granted some limited powers over the singer's estate since his death at the age of 50 nearly two weeks ago. But since Branca and McClain were named as executors in the will, it was expected that on Monday they would be given more wide-ranging powers to oversee the late pop star's estimated $500 million estate.

Jackson's mother has been named the temporary guardian of his three children until July 13, when she will be back in court for a hearing on the matter. She was also given authority last week over some of her son's possessions, including items from his shuttered Neverland Valley Ranch that were slated for auction earlier this year, but not his finances.

The anonymous family source told the AP that Katherine Jackson and her advisors want time to "further investigate the circumstances and individuals that were surrounding Michael Jackson during his final days." In court filings, attorneys for the Jackson family matriarch have asked the judge in the case to delay naming Branca and McClain as the estate administrators, while attorneys for the two men have argued that their swift appointment is critical to controlling Jackson's considerable financial interests.

The court hearingwill take place in the shadow of the public memorial slated for Tuesday at Los Angeles' 20,000-capacity Staples Center. More than 1.6 million people registered to receive the 8,750 tickets released to the public for the event.

MTV will be broadcasting live from the Michael Jackson public memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

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