MJ’s mother Katherine wants to challenge named estate executors’ authority

Late King of Pop Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine, has sought a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge’s ruling on whether she can challenge the authority of two men named in the Thriller star’s will as executors of his estate without being disinherited.

Filing her papers, she has not formally challenged the appointment of attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain as executors of her late son’s estate.

However, a favourable ruling may mean that 79-year-old Katherine will be controlling Michael’s estate, which has an estimated value of over 500 million dollars.

According to reports, a judge had granted Katherine temporary control over roughly 2,000 items taken from her son's Neverland Ranch and slated for auction, before it expired and was given to Branca and McClain.

Katherine had sought to control Michael’s estate, but that was before the singer's 2002 will was filed in Los Angeles.

The will names Branca and McClain as Michael’s choice for co-executors of the will, and states his estate should be placed in a private trust.

A "no contest" clause has been included in Michael’s trust, which calls for anyone who challenges the will to be disinherited.

Katherine Jackson, her three grandchildren, and unnamed charities are beneficiaries of the estate.

The filing states that Katherine’s lawyers were conferring with McClain’s and Branca’s lawyers, and they had not taken any final decisions as yet, reports the Daily Express.

Judge Mitchell Beckloff will consider how to handle the filing at a hearing on August 3, and lingering issues about Michael’s estate could then be decided.

The hearing will also focus on whether Katherine will be allowed to keep custody of her son's children, who range in ages from seven to 12.