Michael Jackson's ex-wife Deborah Rowe said Thursday that she plans to fight for custody of the two children of the late pop superstar, despite a will signed by the singer excludes her receiving any benefit from his estate.
Rowe, who was married to Jackson during 1996 to 1999, told local television channel NBC4 that she is planning to seek custody of the two older children of Jackson's three children. She is the mother of Prince Michael Jr., 12, and Paris Michael Katherine, 11.
Rowe, a former nurse of Jackson's dermatologist, signed a contract to give up her parental rights when she divorced from the singer, but later challenged the agreement, which was thrown out by an appeals court in 2006. Jackson retained custody of the children while Rowe was given visitation rights.
It was reported that Rowe would also ask for custody of Jackson's third child, Prince Michael II, 7, but recognized it would be tougher for her to make such a claim since she isn't the child's mother.
Jackson's third child, known as "Blanket," was born to an unknown surrogate mother, who has never been identified.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge earlier this week named Jackson's mother, Katherine, temporary guardian of the children and special administrator of his estate. A hearing on the custody issue, initially scheduled for Monday, was postponed to July 13 for unspecified reasons, according to the court's public information office.
A Monday hearing is still scheduled to discuss issues regarding Jackson's estate.
On Wednesday, a will signed by Jackson in 2002 was filed in the court by his former associates. The will orders that Katherine Jackson, 79, be named guardian of the children.
Jackson also asks music legend Diana Ross to be appointed backup guardian of his children in case of his mother's death.
Jackson's will specifically leaves her second wife out of any inheritance, stating that "I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife, Deborah Jean Rowe Jackson."
It is expected that Jackson's first wife Lisa Presley, who is daughter of Elvis Presley, will waive her rights to make any claim on the singer's estate.
(Xinhua News Agency July 3, 2009)
