A judge said Monday that Michael Jackson's longtime attorney and a family friend should take over the pop singer's estate for now, rejecting a request from Jackson's mother to be put in charge.
Jackson's 2002 will names John Branca and John McClain as co-executors of his estate, and his mother katherine jackson as the beneficiary, as well as guardian of his three children, Michael Jr., 12, Paris Michael, 11, and Prince Michael, 7. Jackson's estate is estimated in court filings as being worth more than $500 million.
Judge Mitchell Beckloff ruled that Branca and McClain would have to pay a $1 million bond on the estate and that their authority would end Aug. 3, followed by another hearing on the estate.
Katherine Jackson, was granted some limited powers over the singer's estate days after his death. Her attorney's asked Monday that she be named co-administrator on the estate with Branca and McClain, but Beckloff denied the request.
