Michael Jackson

September 17, 2009, (Sawf News) - Katherine Jackson is being paid a monthly allowance of $86,000 from Michael Jackson's estate, and his three children $60,000, according to legal documents made public on Thursday, September 17.

A judge approved the allowance last month but the precise amounts were not made public at that time.

The estate will continue to pay the allowances, which are subject to change, till it is probated, a process that could take between 1 and 2 years, reports TMZ.

Jackson's will leaves 40% of his estate to Katherine, 40% to his children and the remaining 20% to unspecified charities.

According to the documents, Jackson's estate lawyers believe the estate is solvent and worth over $500 million. Future business deals are expected to generate additional "tens of millions of dollars."

Katherine, 79, and Michael's children were financially dependent on the singer who died of cardiac arrest on June 25. Michael had paid Katherine's living expenses for years before his death.

According to TMZ, Katherine's monthly expenses, as listed in the documents, include the following major items:


Assistant: $4,722
Insurance for Asst: $475
Housekeeper: $2,080
Driver: $2,000
Payroll and Taxes on gross salaries: $1,760
Utilities: $3,260
Clothing: $3,500
Personal grooming: $1,000
Entertainment: $1,500
Car Expenses: $1,750

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Michael Jackson "This Is It Movie"

October 15, 2009, (Splash News) - Michael Jackson's new This Is It movie could make a staggering $250m in its first week when it is released later this month.

Concert promoters AEG sold rights to the late star's concert rehearsal footage for $60m to Sony Pictures.

Now studio insiders say that the movie could out-sell Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince, Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen, and Star Trek.

The movie is already number one in ticket sales on online ticket site Fandango with two weeks until its release.

Camera crews shot more than 100 hours of footage as Jackson prepared for his 50-date comeback tour at London's O2 Arena.

Insiders say that Jackson demanded the recordings because he wanted them for his personal collection.

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Michael Jackson "This Is It"

October 12, 2009, (Sawf News) - Paul Anka and Michael Jackson co-wrote the newly released single This Is It, Jackson's estate managers have acknowledged, promising to give Anka "all due credit and royalties."

"The song was co-written by the legendary Paul Anka," acknowledged a statement issued by Michael Jackson's estate managers - attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain.

Anka appeared completely satisfied with good reasons. He says McClain told him:

"We took Sony 50 songs, and this was the best of all of them. My thought was that this one sounded different. Now I know why."

According to TMZ, Anka is now a 50% partner in the This Is It publishing rights.

This Is It, the title track from Michael Jackson's upcoming double album and documentary film, bears a resemblance to the 1991 track by the R&B singer Safire - I Never Heard, which was co-written by Jackson and his friend Anka.

In an interview Monday morning, October 12, Anka said he had not been contacted before the release of the single and the lyrics for it had been exclusively credited to Jackson.

"They have a major, major problem on their hands," Anka said. "They will be sued if they don't correct it."

According to Anka, he and Jackson wrote and recorded the song, then titled I Never Heard, as a duet in 1983 in Carmel, Calif., for Anka's album Walk a Fine Line. However, the two friends subsequently fell apart and Jackson took the recording with him.

Anka retrieved the original tape and copyright documentation only after threatening to sue for it.

A copy of the original recording was found in Michael Jackson's vault and assumed to be his copyright.

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Splash News

August 12, 2009, (Splash News) - A female attorney has been chosen as a special guardian to represent Michael Jackson's children in various business agreements proposed for the singer's estate.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge has appointed Margaret G Lodise. She practices estate, trust and conservatorship litigation as a partner of Los Angeles law firm Sacks, Glazier, Franklin and Lodise.

Lodise is known to be a regular lecturer on estate and trust-related issues before both legal and community organizations and has served as an expert witness, according to the firm's website.

In her role of guardian, Lodise will have to ensure that the children's interests are protected during the legal proceedings.

Katherine Jackson, who is the natural guardian and paternal grandmother is still in charge of their custody and interests outside the courtroom.

Jackson's children are Prince Michael Jr, 12, and Paris Michael Katherine, 11, whose mother is Debbie Rowe, and Prince Michael II, who was born through a surrogate mother whose name has never been revealed.

Judge Beckloff raised his concern after being told by attorneys for the special administrators of the estate that Katherine Jackson and her late son's three children have a 'significant interest' in the trust created by the singer's will.

The details of the trust have not been made public.

Attorneys for AEG Live and Bravado say the deals they want OK'd involve merchandising and an exhibition of Michael Jackson memorabilia.

According to papers previously filed these would include a calendar, reprinting Jackson's book Moonwalk, posters, buttons and even a deal with iTunes.

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michael jackson

Michael Jackson

(Los Angeles Times)

Jackson performs at Dodger Stadium on Nov. 30, 1984.

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Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson

(Rolling Stone / Associated Press)

Jackson returned to the Rolling Stone cover on March 15, 1984.

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Michael Jackson *1983*

Michael Jackson

(Los Angeles Times)

Jackson performs in 1983.

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