In one corner are Michael Jackson's parents. In the opposite stand a prominent entertainment attorney and a respected music executive. Whether the sides will fight for control of the pop star's lucrative estate or come to an agreement seems likely to be decided in the next four days.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge reviewed a copy of a 2002 will on Wednesday that names attorney John Branca and John McClain, a co-founder of Interscope Records, executors of Jackson's estate, but he declined the men's request to remove the performer's mother, Katherine, from her role as temporary administrator.
Judge Mitchell Beckloff acknowledged that his basis for granting the 79-year-old the power -- an assertion by her attorneys Monday that Jackson died without a will -- was "likely wrong," but he said the matter could be aired fully at a hearing Monday to discuss legal issues created by the performer's death.
In the meantime, Beckloff, supervising judge of the court's probate division, urged the parties to reach a consensus over the long holiday weekend.
"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.
Lawyers for Jackson's parents say they are evaluating the validity of the will. The document bears Jackson's signature, and many paragraphs of the document are initialed "MJ." Dated July 7, 2002, the will called for all of Jackson's assets to be transferred into the Michael Jackson Family Trust. The beneficiaries are not identified in the will, but the singer reportedly divided his estate among his mother, his children and charities.
He put Branca, who had represented him since 1980, and McClain, a longtime family friend, in charge of settling the estate. A third executor named, former business advisor Barry Siegel, resigned from consideration in 2003, according to a statement released by representatives for Branca and McClain.
The will appointed Katherine Jackson guardian of her two grandsons and granddaughter and requested that music legend Diana Ross care for the children if his mother was unable to do so. The judge previously granted Katherine Jackson temporary custody.
Neither Jackson's parents nor the named executors attended a hearing after the will's filing. Their attorneys complained to the judge about their adversaries' conduct, but both sides were deferential in referring to Katherine Jackson. Explaining why she had not signed certain paperwork, Burt Levitch, an attorney for Jackson's parents, said, "She's in the middle of planning her son's funeral."
