Janet Jackson says that she has formed a strong bond with her brother Michael’s three kids and would step up and raise them if needed. Singer and actress Janet Jackson has stepped up and offered to raise Michael’s three children, Prince, 12, Paris, 11, and “Blanket”, 7. She says that she loves the children as her own and has really formed a bond with them since her brother’s death. Michael named his mother Katherine as the guardian of the children in his will, but according to Michael’s ’spiritual adviser’ Rev June Gatlin, he wanted Janet to care for the kids if anything happened to his mother. Gatlin told the Today Show, “Michael loved his sister, Michael trusted his sister, he trusted Janet explicitly.” A family insider told The Sun newspaper, “Janet has said, “I love them and I’ll step forward and raise them if this is what they want. She tells everyone she loves them as if they were her own. The children have chosen her as their confidante and mother figure, and Janet feels her place is at their side. She’s completely bonded with those children in the last two weeks. It’s clear to everyone that they are looking to her for comfort and guidance. Janet is blossoming as a woman with tremendous maternal instincts.” Janet has been divorced twice, but has no children of her own. She recently just broke up with her longtime fiance Jermaine Dupri.
JULY 1--A will signed in 2002 by Michael Jackson stipulates that his assets be placed in a family trust and that his mother be appointed the guardian of his three offspring. The will, a copy of which you'll find below, lists three executors, including lawyer John Branca and music industry executive John McClain. The will makes no provision for bequests to Jackson's father or any of his eight siblings, and a court filing indicates that beneficiaries of the Michael Jackson Family Trust are limited to his children and mother Katherine. Six other relatives, including his brother Tito's three sons, are named as "contingent remainder beneficiaries" who would share the estate in the event that Jackson's principal beneficiaries died before he did. Branca and McClain believe that the value of Jackson's estate "exceeds $500 million" and consists of "non-cash, non-liquid assets," including Jackson's share of lucrative music royalty rights. In the case that Jackson's mother were to predecease him (or was unable or unwilling to serve as guardian), Jackson stipulated that singer Diana Ross should be appointed guardian of his minor children. The "Last Will of Michael Joseph Jackson" was executed in Los Angeles on July 7, 2002, about four months after the birth of the performer's youngest child. (8 pages)
Joe Jackson really doesn't want to hand over Michael Jackson's kids to Debbie Rowe. Michael's three children remain with him and wife Katherine, saying "There's no one else to do what we can do for them.""We should keep them all together and make them happy," he went on. "And feed them like they're supposed to be fed. And let them get rest ... and grow up to be strong Jacksons." Of course, he has big plans for his grandkids. "I keep watching Paris. She wants to do something." What about the other kids? He revealed that Michael Prince II (Blanket) "can really dance." He went on, "that's what they're saying. He can really dance."For now, Katherine remains the children's temporary legal guardian until a hearing on July 13. Do you think it's a good idea for Michael's father to get custody of the kids? (share your comments on our blog page)
Stay tune for more SP Live News on our Radio Show, which feature Gospel, Jazz, R&B and Urban City Issues, Logon NOW and stay informed as you'll be able to hear and see the difference in our LIVE radio show over the Internet!