Katherine Jackson Expected To Be Named Legal Guardian Of Michael's Three Children Monday

Aug. 3 2009, Published 11:58 a.m. ET

Katherine Jackson, 79, is expected to be officially named the legal guardian of Michael Jackson's three children Monday.

Lawyers for Mrs. Jackson and Debbie Rowe -- the birth mother to two of Michael Jackson's three children -- said last week that a settlement had been reached concerning guardianship of the three kids, thereby averting a lengthy custody battle. Although the terms of the agreement have not been publicly disclosed, it is widely expected Katherine Jackson will be named the legal guardian of the children by Judge Mitchell Beckloff when the matter goes to court in Los Angeles Monday morning.

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Court Showdown: Katherine Jackson Tries To Get Control of Michael’s Estate

Although the children would live with Mrs. Jackson, Rowe would have visitation rights for her two biological children: Prince Michael, 12, and Paris Michael, 11. The mother of Jackson's third child, 7-year-old Prince Michael II (a.k.a. Blanket), is not known.

Another issue on Monday's docket revolves around who controls the King of Pop's estate; the two men names as executors in the late singer's 2002 will, John Branca and John McClain, are battling Katherine Jackson for control of the singer's assets. Jackson's attorney, Londell McMillan, said Katherine Jackson should be named as co-executor of the estate on the basis that she had been his most trusted business adviser for the past four years.