JACKSON & ROWE TO SPLIT CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST BILL IN NEW CUSTODY AGREEMENT
MICHAEL JACKSON’s ex-wife DEBBIE ROWE and his mother KATHERINE will share the cost of a child psychologist to determine visitation terms in a deal giving the clan matriarch full custody of her three grandchildren.
The Thriller hitmaker’s kids Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, aka Blanket, have been left in the care of their grandmother Katherine since the sudden death of their father last month (Jun09).
Katherine Jackson and Rowe - the biological mother to the singer’s two eldest children - were expected face each other in court next week (03Aug09) to fight out a custody arrangement.
The 79 year old’s lawyer, L. Londell McMillan, revealed on Thursday morning (30Jul09) the pair had reached an agreement which will see Katherine become the youngsters’ legal guardian, while Rowe will receive visitation rights.
Rowe will not receive any additional financial support as part of the deal, and will be expected to split bills for a child psychologist who will determine when and how often she will have access to the children.
An official statement released by Katherine Jackson’s attorneys on Thursday says: "The timing, frequency and manner of visits shall be implemented according to the best interests of the children, as determined by a child psychologist selected jointly, and paid jointly, by Katherine Jackson and Deborah Rowe.
"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." Both parties are scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday (03Aug09), when a judge is expected to sign off on the custody agreement.
Jackson’s will, which was filed in 2002, stipulates he wanted his mother to care for his children in the event of his death, and names singer Diana Ross as his second-choice guardian.
The youngest of the late singer’s children, Blanket, was born via an unknown surrogate.
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
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