Michael Jackson wanted his mother, Katherine Jackson, to have custody of his three children, family attorney Debra Opri told Access Hollywood.
“Those children belong with Katherine Jackson. That’s what Michael wanted and that’s what everyone wants,” Debra told Access on Friday.
Michael, who died on Thursday, has three children — Prince Michael Jackson, 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11; and Prince Michael Jackson II, 7.
Opri, who has worked with the Jacksons since Michael’s molestation trial, also told Access, “Katherine is putting Michael’s children first and that’s the way it has to be.”
Attorney Iris Finsilver, who previously represented Michael’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe, told the Associated Press on Friday that she expected Debbie would seek custody of the children.
Debbie, who was married to Michael from 1996 to 1999, is the mother of his first two children.
The identity of the mother of Prince Michael Jackson II, a surrogate, is unknown.
A source close to the Jackson family told Access on Saturday that Debbie is thought to have only seen the children once since her 2006 settlement with Michael. During the meeting, she played with the kids but was not introduced as their mother.
According to Fox News, Michael’s body has been moved to an undisclosed location following his autopsy on Friday. The family, including Michael’s children, has reportedly gathered in parents Katherine and Joe’s Encino home.
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