*Michael Jackson's July 7, 2002 will was filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles court, naming his mother the guardian of his children and Diana Ross as a successor guardian to his mother if necessary.
*Michael Jackson's July 7, 2002 will was filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles court, naming his mother the guardian of his children and Diana Ross as a successor guardian to his mother if necessary.
The will, which estimated his worth at the time at more than $500 million, gives his entire estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust. The documents said Jackson's estate consisted almost entirely 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."
His mother, Katherine Jackson, is named as a beneficiary of the trust. Jackson's longtime lawyer John Branca and John McClain, a music executive and a family friend, are named as co-executors of the will.
Debbie Rowe, his former wife and mother of two of his children, was left out of the will entirely, according to the Associated Press.
"I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife, Deborah Rowe Jackson," Jackson's will said.
In a statement, Branca and McClain said: "The most important element of Michael's will is his unwavering desire that his mother, Katherine, become the legal guardian for his three 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."