Los Angeles - Michael Jackson's 2002 will was filed in court
Wednesday, appointing his mother Katherine, 79, as the guardian of
his three children.
The will stated that in the event that his mother was unable to
take care of the children, Jackson wanted Diana Ross to look after
them.
According to the will, all of Jackson's assets have been left to
the Michael Jackson Family Trust. It was filed with a separate
petition that estimates the value of his estate at more than 500
million dollars, primarily comprised of his half share of a music
publishing catalog that holds the rights to more than 250 Beatles'
songs, as well as other music.
The will was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court as feverish
preparations were underway at Jackson's Neverland home some 200
kilometers away for a public viewing on Friday and a private memorial
on Sunday.
Media crews and hundreds of fans were already lining the narrow
road leading to the remote, but extravagant, hideaway, as dozens of
service trucks kept rolling through the estate's gates to prepare for
the events. Officials have yet to confirm the memorial plans, but the
influx is feared to overwhelm the usually quiet farming area where
Jackson lived until 2005.
Jackson died Thursday, aged 50, of cardiac arrest.
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