Michael Jackson’s last will was filed Wednesday

[jobeterob]

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Michael Jackson’s Last Will Who Will Challenge
Michael Jackson’s last will was filed Wednesday and everyone from Constitutional lawyers [[like Jeffrey Toobin on CNN) to armchair lawyers, pundits, and the average citizen began speculating and commenting on whether or not the will would be contested. And there is little doubt that it will be. The problem seems to be that Michael Jackson’s last will might be so well written that any challenge to it might be dismissed summarily. And as it is written, the final allocation of the holdings of Michael Jackson’s estate may never be publicly known.

What Did Michael Jackson’s Last Will Say?

Michael Jackson’s last will seems to have been the one delivered Wednesday by entertainment attorney, John Branca. John Branca, along with John McClain, a music industry executive, and Barry Siegel were named co-executors [[although Siegel resigned as an executor later). The Jackson family was also given a copy of the will, which had been previously not known to exist. The family had even filed papers that Michael Jackson had died intestate [[without a will).

The will placed everything into the Michael Jackson Family Trust. The beneficiaries of the Michael Jackson Family Trust are limited to Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine, and his three children. Michael also requested that Katherine Jackson retain custody of the children. He further requested that singing legend Diana Ross, who had a close relationship with the pop star, be named custodial caretaker of the children if for whatever reason his mother could or would not acquire the children.

Six “contingent beneficiaries” — three of his brothers and three sons of his brother, Tito — were named to share the estate if Michael Jackson had died before the considerable beneficiaries.

The only person the will specifically excluded was Michael Jackson’s former wife, Debbie Rowe. Rumors that his father, Joe Jackson, was left out of the will may not actually be legal. Joe Jackson was not named as excluded, but the Michael Jackson Family Trust will be administered privately, so it is unknown if Joe Jackson was ultimately mentioned or not.

What Does Michael Jackson’s Last Will Accomplish?

Michael Jackson’s last will, which was executed in 2002, is a concise 5-page document that specifically spells out what he wished to be done with his estate after his death. According to Jeffrey Toobin, a contributing legal analyst to CNN, the document is specific and well-written should be approved by the Los Angeles County Court without any problems.

Chuck Baumer, who is a probate and will specialist, told CNN that Michael Jackson’s last will was very thoughtful and interestingly initialed at each paragraph, not at the bottom of each page, as is most commonly done. This was done as an added precaution, Baumer believed, so that someone could not contest even the smallest part of the will.

It is so well-written that Jeffrey Toobin believes anyone attempting to contest the will has very little chance of succeeding. And anyone can challenge a will, he admitted, but: “As far as I can tell, there are no grounds for anyone to successfully challenge this will.”

However, until the Court rules on the authenticity of the Michael Jackson’s 2002 will, reportedly his last, there are two groups vying for control of the estate, Baumer explained. The Jackson family, who believed Michael died without a will, and the executors of Michael Jackson’s estate named in the will. He pointed out, though, that Jackson’s 2002 last will looked to be a superb will, and a judge would most likely rule Monday that the executors take control of Michael Jackson’s estate.

So What Does Michael Jackson’s Last Will Tell Us?

In the end, Michael Jackson’s will tells us only that he wished his mother, Katherine, to have guardianship over his three children, that Diana Ross would take over said guardianship if his mother could or would not, that Debbie Rowe was excluded from the will, and that his mother and three children are the beneficiaries of the Michael Jackson Family Trust, wherein all of Michael Jackson’s assets were to be placed at the moment of his death. The details of the Family Trust are unknown, which seems to be exactly what Michael Jackson wanted, keeping his last will concise and sparsely detailed.

Which means that the public section of the last will of Michael Jackson, such that it is, will be all that the public might ever know of the allocation of Michael Jackson’s estate and holdings. Since the Michael Jackson Family Trust is a private trust, there may never be a reason for the manner in which it is administered to ever be made public.

And whether or not Joe Jackson or anyone else was provided for in the Michael Jackson Family Trust, other than Katherine Jackson and Michael Jackson’s children, is unknown. Unless the information is freely given by those who would know, it is doubtful that what is contained within the Michael Jackson Family Trust will ever be made public.

Which makes for a better story, lends it some mystery. Not that the Michael Jackson saga needed any more drama or mystery, given his sudden death and the strange circumstances under which he died.

And the public will that set up his private Family Trust might be the perfect ironic ending to a very public life…

******

The Smoking Gun has Michael Jackson’s last will and attachments.

[nomis]

katherine,Joe and Jermaine have already approached the estate with what they claim is the last will of Michael -Their version of the will was rejected as a fake..things have turned pretty ugly between The Jacksons and the Estate- they have gone after Howard Mann and the publishers of katherines book - everybody was sued bar Katherine whos taking it personally as an attack on her right to sell a book - the legal entanglment is over Michaels drawings which The Estate claims are copyrighted to them whats kooky about the situation is Howard Mann was sued by both Michael and Janet for trying to sell their belongings which a court ruled he had no right to take from a storage unit the Jacksons failed to pay rent on when they were bankrupt..So Katheine is backing Mann who her own daughter and son sued..only in Jackson land

[jobeterob]

The Jacksons do have a unique family dynamic.

To some, it is positive where you have a loud, brash, expressive family that loves. But with the Jacksons, everyone has seen the excesses and the bad - the addictions, the plastic surgery, the physical discipline, the overspending, the egos.

It really is a capper when Michael went outside the family for executors and guardians.

[midnightman]

That Jacksons as a family facade fell apart after Michael's death. Sad thing is the family themselves don't even realize it. It seems all they want is money for something they didn't earn on their own, which is a shame since the other Jackson brothers have the talent but they got jealous of Michael becoming a global icon. He was almost positioned to be one from his Motown days.

[miss_lish]

Good article, Jobeterob. It appears that Michael dotted his I's and crossed his T's, and what he desired to take place upon his death will.

[topdiva1]

Can one really overspend.

[nomis]

After the Victory tour and Moonies debacle he didnt trust his family..

[jobeterob]

Tony..............you may be telling us too much; this could be why you have no money left! Please tell us you are not like Jermaine!

I agree with the comments of Miss Lish and Midnightman ~ the "i's and t's" were dotted on this Will.

[nomis]

Joe is trying to get a Michael Jackson perfume off the ground without the Estates permission..my sources tell me hes the next one to get the cease and desist notice..Michael was no fool for all the prouncements of a peter pan like waif there was also a hard headed buisness man who didnt think twice about going up against Sony..he didnt trust any of them,Katherine included..when he read the court papers showing that they had all accepted payments to get him to sing for The Moonies that was it..your own mother and father selling you out for a concert when he begged them that he couldnt tour no more..they are the most lousy bunch of money grabbing low lifes excluding Janet..They dont care about their image now they can smell the money and they want their share..giving Branca a false will..well hes got their number they get the twenty grand payment from the estate once a month and thats it..trust me things are going to get worse from here on Im being told theres concern all this is affecting Katherines mental well being and that Howard Mann is whispering in her ear but shes been this way before and Michael knew it..Joe and Jermaine are quite hapless really their schemes never get off the ground but Katherine was cursing out the Estate on tv the other day..the whole situation is pitiful..

[jobeterob]

If the children have been exposed to too much, they will start going wrong over the next few years and no guardian will be able to prevent it.

[olamaebarto]

Good article, Jobeterob. It appears that Michael dotted his I's and crossed his T's, and what he desired to take place upon his death will.

I wonder if the Los Angeles Supreme Court will have this for the public to view?

[jobeterob]

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/...100212133.html

A copy of Michael's will is available at that site; I can't paste it here but you can read it there. A very interesting section is the portion about the guardian; his precise wording may mean that Diana Ross will be the next guardian and that Mrs. Jackson is not now allowed to name a replacement; of course, Diana Ross could decline in favor of Rebbie or someone else.

In Canada, with payment of a fee, all probate documents are available to the public. What will not be available in the Jackson estate is a copy of the trust ~ which deals with the money. But we all know there is nothing there for Mr. Jackson and the brothers and sister. Sad times for them.

[midnightman]

Can one really overspend.

Yes. We've seen what happens when someone overspends...

[midnightman]

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/...100212133.html

A copy of Michael's will is available at that site; I can't paste it here but you can read it there. A very interesting section is the portion about the guardian; his precise wording may mean that Diana Ross will be the next guardian and that Mrs. Jackson is not now allowed to name a replacement; of course, Diana Ross could decline in favor of Rebbie or someone else.

In Canada, with payment of a fee, all probate documents are available to the public. What will not be available in the Jackson estate is a copy of the trust ~ which deals with the money. But we all know there is nothing there for Mr. Jackson and the brothers and sister. Sad times for them.

They have themselves to blame for why they won't receive any money. I'm sure the sisters will be alright, I heard each of them got money, especially Janet and La Toya.

[theboyfromxtown]

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/...100212133.html

A copy of Michael's will is available at that site; I can't paste it here but you can read it there. A very interesting section is the portion about the guardian; his precise wording may mean that Diana Ross will be the next guardian and that Mrs. Jackson is not now allowed to name a replacement; of course, Diana Ross could decline in favor of Rebbie or someone else.

In Canada, with payment of a fee, all probate documents are available to the public. What will not be available in the Jackson estate is a copy of the trust ~ which deals with the money. But we all know there is nothing there for Mr. Jackson and the brothers and sister. Sad times for them.

Thanks Rob

I've not read the will, it's too small for me to read. But the article says he left it all in trust for the beneficiaries..who include his mother....fine so far, he clearly wanted to make sure his mother was provided for. The executors are a lawyer...pressumably to oversee the other guy......who must be the main man and who is a FAMILY friend. But Rob, I can't see that he can do much for the family on an ongoing basis unless they are beneficiaries too. Wow! I'm a bit shocked!

[jobeterob]

If the family are not beneficiaries of that trust, there is nothing an executor can do for them. The job of the executors is to carry out the terms of the trust ~ no more, no less; if the exector has questions, they can apply for directions from the Court.

If there is really money coming in now and the creditors can all be satisfied and all fees paid, the executors have done a good job.

Naming outside executors must have meant Michael Jackson did not have enough faith in his family to be executors themselves. I can imagine the distress they must have felt when they discovered a lawyer and someone else were executors, that most of them would not get one cent, and that a friend was the alternate guardian of the children.

Katherine will be paid as one of the beneficiaries but she will also receive monies to raise the children.

There is no basis for brothers, sisters, or parents to claim a portion of the will; his nearest relatives were the children who would have inherited everything if there was no will.

[theboyfromxtown]

But Rob...in reality, life doesn't work as simply as that. Since Katherine is a beneficiary, she can make the decision what to do with her beneficiary payouts and she could use those in any way she wanted....ie for her famly and you would expect her to do that.

However, payouts will be from the income of the trust and not capital.....so big sums [[in Michael Jackson terms, that is!!) are unlikely.