More details revealed about the Estate vs Katherine Jackson’s case
ESTATE NEWS
More details revealed about the Estate vs Katherine Jackson’s case
New court documents from the Estate vs Katherine Jackson case have emerged regarding the secret deal which is now obviously the sale of 50% of Michael Jackson Music Catalog (MIJAC) to Sony.
Katherine has revealed that two of Michael’s children have objected to the deal. But despite the rebuttal, the judge granted the motion and approved the deal: “The proposed transaction is approved, and the executors are authorized and instructed to take all actions necessary to implement the proposed transaction, including but not limited to signing all contracts and performing all obligations required of the estate.”
But Katherine Jackson appealed the decision. In her filing, Katherine and her legal team argued the executors “have no power to cause the Estate to enter into the Proposed Transaction.” She said Michael’s will directed the executors to transfer all of his assets into The Michael Jackson Family Trust.
Katherine said Article III of the Last Will of Michael Joseph Jackson, executed on July 7, 2002, “give[s] [Michael’s] entire estate to the Trustee or Trustees then acting under that certain Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust executed on March 22, 2022 by [Michael] as Trustee and Trustor which is called the MICHAEL JACKSON FAMILY TRUST” (the “Trust”) with “[a]ll such assets . . . be[ing] held, managed and distributed as a part of said Trust according to its terms” and requiring the Trustees to “administer, hold and distribute the trust estate pursuant to the provisions of said Trust.” The beneficiaries of the trust are Michael’s children and mother.
Michael’s mom said the executors have NOT transferred all the assets to the trust.
In her filing, Katherine said the executors and the probate court judge all relied on Article V of Michael’s Will.
Article V said the executors had the right to sell Michael’s property “upon terms as my Executors shall deem best.”
Her lawyer said, “By relying wholly on Article V while ignoring Article III, the Proposed Transaction Order violates the black letter law governing the interpretation of wills, including Probate Code.”
Katherine said her son’s assets have remained in the estate and have not been transferred to the Trust as instructed in the Will.
In addition, Katherine said Paris and Blanket objected to the deal. She said Michael’s son Prince “deferred to the probate court.”
“Michael’s intention is crystal clear. Article III states in plain language that the “entire estate” shall be given to the Trust,” the motion read. “The Proposed Transaction does not give the entire Estate to the Trust. It does not give most of the Estate to the Trust. It gives none of the Estate to the Trust.”
Katherine said the probate judge said if Michael “had wanted to exclude the Music Catalog from sale … he could and should have said so.”
Michael’s mother said, “But Michael did say so. He said so in Article III, which directs that the entire Estate [redacted] … ― is to go to the family Trust.”
She said the executors were not entitled to sell the music catalog.
Her motion read, “Until the Estate, including the Music Catalog, is transferred pursuant to Article III of the Will and the law governing executors, the Executors have a contractual, legal, and fiduciary duty to preserve the Estate for the benefit of the Trust beneficiaries.”
The executors were ordered to respond to Katherine’s appeal brief by January 30. No response was filed by the due date. The sale of the music catalog was announced on February 9. It’s unclear if Katherine and the executors reached a deal before the news of the sale was announced.
What a mess!
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