Jacksons Ready for Battle Over Kids

USMagazine, Monday, June 29, 2009, 7:52am (PDT)

The Jackson family will go to court Monday to protect their rights to custody of Michael Jackson's three children, the family's spokesman has said.

Michael has two children with ex Debbie Rowe --Prince, 12, and Paris, 11. His third child, Prince Michael II, 7, was born to a surrogate (the mother's identity was never revealed).

Usmagazine.com confirmed last week that the children have been staying with Michael's mother, Katherine, at the family's Encino, Calif., estate since their father's June 25 death.

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On Monday's Today show, the Jacksons' attorney Londell McMillan said there isn't "anybody who thinks that there is someone better" than Katherine Jackson to have custody.

Said McMillan, "She is a very loving host of other grandchildren."

Over the weekend, Katherine was spotted at a Los Angeles Target stocking up on toys, sleeping bags and other supplies.

McMillan added that the family hasn't heard from Rowe, who gave up her custody rights to the children after she and Jackson divorced in 1999.

In a statement over the weekend, Rowe's attorney, Marta Almli, said: "Ms. Rowe's only thoughts at this time have been regarding the devastating loss Michael's family has suffered. Ms. Rowe requests that Michael's family, and particularly the children, be spared such harmful, sensationalist speculation and that they be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace."

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Jackson's manager, Frank DiLeo, said on ABC's Good Morning America that the children are doing fine - but grieving.

He said he was the one who told the children their father had died.

"They knew when I came into the room," he said. "I'm sure they just saw it on my face. They said, 'say it's not true,' and I just said, 'I'm sorry.'"

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Rowe isn't holding up well, either.

"She is inconsolable," her former attorney Iris Finsilver told Us last week. "She will always love Michael and she always considered him a dear friend."

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