Debbie Rowe keeps her parental rights

Jul 31, 2009 14:23 GMT  ·  By
Katherine Jackson gets full custody of Michael’s three children, while Debbie Rowe is awarded visitation rights
   Katherine Jackson gets full custody of Michael’s three children, while Debbie Rowe is awarded visitation rights

Who gets to keep and raise Michael Jackson’s three children has been an issue that garnered much controversy and debate, especially since the only one who openly addressed it with the media was Joe Jackson, Michael’s father, who had not even been included in the will. Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, seemed to be the best person to raise the orphans, but Debbie Rowe, the star’s former wife, was also believed to have formulated some demands. An agreement has been reached in the custody case, as E! Online can confirm.

Prince Michael, Paris and Prince Michael II (also known as “Blanket”) will be raised by Katherine, and grow up to become Jacksons, the aforementioned publication says. Talks are now over and, surprisingly or not, Debbie Rowe, the natural mother of Prince and Paris, has not made any claims regarding the estate the late King of Pop left behind. Rowe gets to keep her parental rights and, from what her attorney tells E!, she also got visitation rights (only for her two children) and has requested the aid of a child psychologist to help the three cope with the changes in their life, including their father’s death.

“The parties engaged in a dignified discussion that resulted in a dignified outcome. The sole consideration between the parties was the best interests of the children. I’m proud to have worked with such professionals who represented Ms. Jackson, and I am particularly proud of Deborah for her integrity and selflessness.” Rowe’s attorney tells E!, confirming that the former nurse did not ask for more money, like speculation in the media had it.

Lawyers for Katherine Jackson are equally pleased with the outcome, both because it is in the children’s best interest and because it is what Michael himself would have wanted. “Mrs. Jackson and the family are pleased this matter is resolved and was handled in a caring, thoughtful and courteous manner by the parties and their representatives. We were all united in our goals to do what is best for Michael’s wonderful children, and both Mrs. Jackson and Debbie Rowe were on the exact same page. Accordingly, although important issues had to be resolved, this was no legal contest, but rather simply a process doing the right thing for the right reasons.” a statement from Katherine Jackson’s attorneys reads.

As we also reported a short while back, word in the media had it that Debbie Rowe was thinking of asking for the custody of Prince and Paris in hopes that she would get more money from the Jackson clan than the allowance she still received as part of an older understanding she made with Michael. Judging on the latest development, this was never the case.