Lawyers for Debbie Rowe and Katherine Jackson have reportedly reached a custody deal which excludes Joe Jackson from the upbringing of Michael Jackson's three children. Photo Credit: Video GrabJuly 12, 2009, (Sawf News) - Lawyers for Debbie Rowe and Katherine Jackson have reportedly reached a custody deal which excludes Joe Jackson from the upbringing of Michael Jackson's three children.
The lawyers met on Friday, July 10 and obtained a delay in the children's custody hearing from July 13 to July 20.
Jackson family lawyer, Londell McMillan, released the following statement:
"We are pleased that the child custody hearing has been continued over until July 20th to further our progress and allow us to privately and amicably resolve this most important matter in a dignified manner for the benefit of the children first and all involved."
Debbie, 50, Michael's second wife and mother of his eldest two children – Prince Michael, 12, and Paris Katherine, 11 - will relinquish her custody claim in favor of Katherine, as desired by Michael in his will, in exchange for regular access to her children and limiting Joe's access to them.
"The last thing she wanted was for those kids to be looked after by Joe and go through what Michael went through," a source close to Debbie's attorney told the Sunday Mirror.
"When they were together, Michael poured out his heart about how much he loathed Joe for what he had done. And Katherine knows it's best for the children if they can settle it between themselves and keep it all out of the courts."
Debbie is reconciled to "Joseph seeing the kids at family functions and parties" but "will fight to prevent him having any formal role whatsoever in their upbringing."
Michael specifically excluded Debbie from his will having entered into a generous divorce settlement with her on October 13, 1999 that gave her $8.5 million, an SUV and a Beverly Hills home. She got an additional $2 million for entering into a confidentiality agreement.
Michael also made no mention of his father in his will, which bequeathed his estate to his mother, children and charities.
In 2007, Michael accused Joe of beating him as a child.
"My father would rehearse with a belt in his hand, you couldn't mess up. I would never get spanked during rehearsals or practice - but afterwards was when i got in trouble," he said.
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