Just In: Michael Jackson’s Body Moved

Michael Jackson’s body has been moved amid fears fans would break into the crypt where it was stored.

The late ‘Thriller’ star’s coffin was taken to a private tomb belonging to Motown records founder Berry Gordy after the memorial service last week, but thousands of people have flocked to the spot since the location was leaked last weekend.

The Jackson family have now moved the coffin to the basement of the main building at Forest Lawn Cemetery – where the singer’s private funeral took place – until his final resting place is decided.

A source said: “The Jackson family was not pleased and ordered the casket to be placed in the basement for security reasons.”

Michael’s sister LaToya Jackson – who supplied information for the star’s death certificate – was reportedly responsible for choosing what he wore to be buried in.

The 50-year-old star is believed to have been dressed in black studded trousers, an oversized gold belt and two black gloves. His trademark single white glove was also placed in the coffin with him.

It is believed that Michael’s family want him to be laid to rest in his Californian ranch Neverland.

However, his mother Katherine is said to be blocking their wish because she believes it is not what the late star – who moved out of the property when he was acquitted of child abuse charges in 2005 – would have wanted.

Katherine has failed in another bid to be “treated like a third trustee” of the singer’s estate, after originally being refused to be legally named as co-administrator last Monday (06.07.09).

Documents filed at Los Angeles Superior Court Monday(07.13.09) contained details of the dispute but Judge Mitchell Beckhoff signed off papers for the singer’s two existing trustees – attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain – to begin doing business on behalf of the estate.

Katherine had been named temporary administrator in the aftermath of Michael’s death last month.

A new court date has been set for August 3.

Meanwhile, toxicology results that could help establish the cause of the ‘Bad’ singer’s death may be available this week or early next week, an official from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office has claimed.

It is expected the office will announce they have the results and then release the details the following day.

Source: Fametastic

Just In: Katherine Jackson No Longer Administrator of Michael Jackson’s Estate

A judge removed Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson as administrator of his estate as Los Angeles went into lockdown for a star-studded memorial service to which more than 1.5 million people were denied seats.

The acting mayor of Los Angeles said the pop legend would be buried at the city’s well-known Forest Lawn Cemetery today just ahead of the public ceremony, which will be broadcast live around the world.

On the eve of the service, lawyers for Jackson’s 79-year-old mother Katherine clashed with two of the King of Pop’s business associates for control of his estate that includes the Neverland Ranch and rights to Beatles songs.

A judge had named Katherine, who was close to her son throughout his life, as temporary executor of his estate shortly after the pop icon suddenly collapsed and died on June 25.

But in line with Jackson’s will, which emerged last week, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff handed the estate over to attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain.

Lawyers for Katherine Jackson had opposed the motion to appoint the two men, citing a “conflict of interests” and questioning whether Branca had a current relationship with Jackson at the time of his death.

“Mrs Jackson has concerns about handing over the keys of the kingdom just yet. She feels it is too soon,” attorney John Schreiber said.

However, a lawyer for Branca, a prominent entertainment industry attorney, said his client had recently been rehired by Jackson and was well known to the family. The business partners will control Jackson’s estate until a new hearing on August 3.

The Los Angeles Times reported that although the free-spending Jackson died owing more than $400 million, his assets outstripped his debts by at least $200 million.

Those figures also do not include the huge sums likely to be generated by posthumous sales of his music and memorabilia, which have surged and are expected to remain strong for months.

Police are preparing a large-scale operation for today’s service at 10am (1pm Eastern Time), warning to fans DO NOT show up at the downtown Staples Center arena unless you are among the lucky few with tickets.

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“R.I.P. Michael Jackson”

Just In: Michael Jackson at Neverland will not happen

A plan to bury Michael Jackson at his sprawling Neverland Ranch fizzled Wednesday, leaving details about his funeral undecided as another mystery was solved: His newly unveiled will says his mother should raise his children, or failing her, Diana Ross.

The investigation into the singer’s death, meanwhile, deepened late Wednesday when the Drug Enforcement Administration was asked to step in by the Los Angeles Police Department, a law enforcement official in Washington told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.

The changing funeral circumstances thwarted many Jackson fans who had descended on the estate in the rolling hills near Santa Barbara with the hope of attending a public viewing.

“We’re terribly disappointed,” said Ida Barron, 44, who arrived with her husband Paul Barron, 56, intending to spend several days in a tent.

“We were going to listen to music and watch Michael Jackson DVDs and party all night long, not just to have fun, but in memory of Michael Jackson,” Paul Barron said. “Now we’re going to have to just go home.”

Jackson‘s 7-year-old will, filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles court, gives his entire estate to a family trust and names his 79-year-old mother Katherine and his children as beneficiaries. The will also estimates the current value of his estate at more than $500 million.

Katherine Jackson was appointed their guardian, with entertainer Diana Ross, a longtime friend of Michael Jackson, named successor guardian if something happens to his mother. Ross introduced the Jackson 5 on the Ed Sullivan Show in the late 1960s and was instrumental in launching their career.

Meanwhile, Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said a public memorial was in the works for Jackson but wouldn’t be held at Neverland. In addition, it appeared more likely that a funeral and burial would take place in Los Angeles, a person familiar with the situation told the AP.

But the person, who is not authorized to speak for the family and requested anonymity, said nothing was planned for Neverland, at least through Friday.

The person said billionaire Thomas Barrack, who owns Neverland in a joint venture with Jackson, sought an exemption to bury the singer at the ranch. But the person says it’s a complicated process and it couldn’t be done for a burial this week.

“The family is aware a Neverland burial is not possible. They are expected to make decisions about whatever funeral and memorial service” will take place, the person said.

Heavy construction equipment and workers were seen passing through the wrought-iron gates of Neverland on Tuesday. It wasn’t clear what they were doing. The property is about 120 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

At once a symbol of Jackson’s success and excesses, Neverland — nestled in wine country — became the site of a makeshift memorial after his death.

In Los Angeles, Jackson’s lawyer John Branca and family friend John McClain, a music executive, were named in the will as co-executors of his estate. In a statement, they said the most important element of the will was Jackson‘s steadfast desire that his mother become the legal guardian for his children.

“As we work to carry out Michael’s instructions to safeguard both the future of his children as well as the remarkable legacy he left us as an artist, we ask that all matters involving his estate be handled with the dignity and the respect that Michael and his family deserve,” the statement said.

The will doesn’t name father Joe Jackson to any position of authority in administering the estate.

The executors moved quickly to take control of all of Michael Jackson‘s property, going to court hours after filing the will to challenge a previous ruling that gave Katherine Jackson control of 2,000 items from Neverland.

Paul Gordon Hoffman, an attorney for the executors, told Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff his clients are the proper people to take over Jackson‘s financial affairs. He called Katherine Jackson‘s speed in getting limited power over her son’s property “a race to the courthouse that is frankly improper.”

Judge Beckloff urged attorneys from both sides to try to reach a compromise.

“I would like the family to sit down and try to make this work so that we don’t have a difficult time in court,” the judge said. A hearing on the estate was set for Monday.

The will, dated July 7, 2002, gives the entire estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust. Details of the trust will not be made public.

The documents said Jackson‘s estate consisted almost entirely of “non-cash, non-liquid assets, including primarily an interest in a catalog of music royalty rights which is currently being administered by Sony ATV, and the interests of various entities.”

Jackson owns a 50 percent stake in the massive Sony-ATV Music Publishing Catalog, which includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers.

Jackson was recently in shaky financial health. In the most detailed account yet of the singer’s tangled financial empire, documents obtained by The Associated Press show Jackson claimed to have a net worth of $236.6 million as of March 31, 2007.

Jackson, who died June 25 at age 50, left behind three children: son Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11; and son Prince Michael II, 7. Debbie Rowe was the mother of the two oldest children; the youngest was born to a surrogate mother, who has never been identified.

Katherine Jackson was granted temporary guardianship Monday. A judge held off on requests to control the children’s estates.

Rowe, who was married to Jackson in 1996 and filed for divorce three years later, surrendered her parental rights. An appeals court later found that was done in error, and Rowe and Jackson entered an out-of-court settlement in 2006.

Neither Rowe nor her attorneys have indicated whether she intends to seek custody of the two oldest children.

Source: Yahoo!

Just In: Michael Jackson’s Will Filed!!

Michael Jackson’s Will Filed In Court….

Jackson nominated Diana Ross to serve as children’s guardian if his own mother is unable.

Michael Jackson‘s will was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday (July 1), revealing the late singer’s wishes for his estate and the three children he left behind.

In the will, which was drafted in 2002, Jackson called for family attorney John Branca, accountant Barry Siegel and music executive and long-time friend John McClain, to serve as co-executors of the Michael Jackson Family Trust, an estate established to manage all of the King of Pop’s assets. According to The Associated Press, Jackson estimated his worth at more than $500 million at the time he completed his will. Documents obtained by the AP reveal Jackson‘s estate consisted of “non-cash, non-liquid assets, including primarily an interest in a catalogue of music royalty rights which is currently being administered by Sony ATV, and the interests of various entities.”

The original documents were prepared for Jackson to sign on March 22, 2002, but the pop star — who died unexpectedly last Thursday after suffering from cardiac arrest — didn’t complete the paperwork until July 7, 2002.

In the will, Jackson nominated his mother, Katherine Jackson, to serve as guardian of his three children. On Monday, a judge granted Katherine temporary custody of the children, Prince Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11; and Prince Michael Jackson II, 7. In the event Jackson‘s mother was unable or unwilling to care for the children, the singer then called for Diana Ross, an early mentor to Jackson, to be the guardian of his kids.

Debbie Rowe, Jackson‘s ex-wife and the surrogate mother of his first two children, was specifically omitted from the will. The mother of Jackson‘s third child remains unknown.

“I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife, Deborah Jean Rowe Jackson,” the will states.

As co-executors of the Michael Jackson Family Trust, Branca, McClain and Siegel have the right to sell or mortgage any property Jackson owns and to invest state funds as necessary. They will probably have their hands full with the host of lawsuits and debt Jackson left behind.

Branca and McClain issued a joint statement to the press earlier today, reiterating Jackson‘s desires for his children to be placed under his mother’s care.

“The most important element of Michael’s will is his unwavering desire that his mother, Katherine, become the legal guardian for his three children,” the statement said. “As we work to carry out Michael’s instructions to safeguard both the future of his children, as well as the remarkable legacy he left us as an artist we ask that all matters involving his estate be handled with the dignity and the respect that Michael and his family deserve.”

According to TMZ, Siegel resigned from his role as executor in 2003.

The will states that if one of the men refuses to serve as co-executor, a replacement does not need to be named. Should all three men decline, together they could nominate a new executor.

There is no mention by Jackson in the will of where or how he wished to be buried.

Source: via MTV