The fallout from a custody row over Michael Jackson’s three children intensified today after fresh claims that neither Jackson nor ex-wife Debbie Rowe are the biological parents of any of the children.
Jackson also never filed any papers to formally adopt any of the children, according to U.S. media reports today.
Rumours have long circulated about the true parentage of Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II (or Blanket), 7.
Today TMZ.com, which broke the news of Jackson’s death to the world, claimed that ‘multiple sources deeply connected to the births’ had told the website Jackson was not the biological father of any of the children – and Rowe was not their biological mother.
Instead she acted as a surrogate mother for Prince Michael and Paris – and was ‘paid well’ for her services, according to the website.
Five years ago it was claimed that Rowe was artificially inseminated by an anonymous donor before giving birth to Prince Michael and Paris.
Blanket was born to an unnamed surrogate mother. His surrogate mother, thought to be from Europe, has never been identified and the box for the mother’s name on the legal petition was marked ‘none’.
The paternity of all three children has been questioned in the past.
TMZ claimed documents outlining the birth arrangements for all three children do exist. No such documents proving or disproving their biological parentage have ever emerged into the public domain, however.
Jackson never filed any papers to formally adopt any of the children, according to TMZ.
The website did not attribute a source for the adoption claim, saying simply: ‘We’re told at the time the kids were born there was no third party whom he believed would try and claim custody. For some reason, Jackson never thought Debbie Rowe would mount a custody challenge.’
Meanwhile it has been revealed that Michael Jackson’s father may have been cut out of the pop star’s final will.
A will drafted by Jackson in 2002, believed to have been his last, has emerged which shares his multi-million pound estate between his mother, three children and a number of charities.
Jackson had a chilly relationship with his 80-year-old father, who he accused of abusing him as a child.
Business associates think it unlikely that he would have ceded financial control or custody to him.
Last night, Jackson’s former lawyer, John Branca, emerged to claim he has the copy of the will and he will be filing it with the court later this week.
The news will add further complexity to what is already certain to be a protracted and costly court battle over Jackson’s assets and £500million debts.
The news came as Jackson’s mother was granted temporary custody of her three grandchildren in the first of a string of court hearings certain to be held in the aftermath of the singer’s death.
Katherine Jackson, 79, also filed court papers in Los Angeles last night to take control of her son’s tangled estate.
The legal moves – like much else that has happened in the wake of Jackson’s death last Thursday – were shrouded in confusion and uncertainty.
The Jackson children, at least, now know who will be taking care of them until August 3, when their grandmother will make her case to be their permanent guardian.
There is also the possibility that Blanket’s mother may emerge to reclaim the boy.
According to the custody petition filed yesterday, it ‘is not known at this time’ whether Rowe will try to claim custody.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff denied Mrs Jackson’s request to become administrator of the children’s estates.
In court papers, she listed the estates’ value as unknown.
The filing lists the children as living at the Jacksons’ family compound in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles and adds: ‘They have a long established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care.’
Given the secrecy surrounding Jackson’s children throughout his life, it’s no surprise there are questions about who will care for them.
Experts say the person who has the strongest legal claim to Jackson’s two oldest children is Rowe.
But she has indicated she may only ask for improved access, rather than full custody.
As for the youngest child, Jackson’s wishes will be more influential, though until a will emerges, they remain unknown.
No executors have come forward and searches have failed to find any documents.
The singer hired and fired lawyers every few months and the family expected several to come forward with a will – but had heard nothing until Mr Branca’s statement last night.
But, speaking outside a music awards tribute in Los Angeles on Sunday, Mr Jackson claimed he was following his son’s wishes.
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