Judge says Michael Jackson’s kids ‘doing wonderfully’

Los Angeles, October 03: A Judge overseeing legal issues concerning Michael Jackson’s estate says the late singer’s children were “doing wonderfully” three months after their father’s death.

Jackson’s mother Katherine was granted permanent custody of her grand-
children – Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, Prince Michael II, 7 – at a court hearing in Los Angeles in August.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said the children were being well cared for at a hearing to address various matters concerning the Jackson estate.

“It looks like the children are doing really wonderfully with their grandmother guardian,” Judge Beckloff said.

However, the judge was cautious about other matters concerning Jackson’s multi-million-dollar fortune, and the number of creditors making claims against the estate.

The judge also set a November 10 trial date to hear competing probate petitions between the two entertainment industry executives named as administrators of Jackson’s estate, John Branca and John McClain, and Jackson’s mother Katherine.

Last month, the judge ruled Katherine Jackson could challenge the Branca-McClain administration of the estate without losing her stake.
Judge Beckloff encouraged both sides to try and mediate a settlement of their disputes and avoid a trial.

Jackson died on June 25 at age 50 after taking a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs. The coroner’s office has ruled his death a homicide.

—Agencies