Judge Weighs Allowance for Joe Jackson
A judge has scheduled a hearing to decide if Michael Jackson's father should receive a monthly allowance of more than $15,000 from the pop star's estate.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said Thursday he would hold an evidentiary hearing on May 26 regarding Joe Jackson's petition.
Michael Jackson had an often-strained relationship with his father. He omitted Joe Jackson from his will and trust, which benefits the singer's mother, three children and various charities.
Joe Jackson sought the stipend in November, saying he had little monthly income.
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Attorneys for estate administrators John Branca and John McClain on Thursday filed papers opposing Joe Jackson's efforts last week. The filing states Joe Jackson has failed to show that his superstar son supported him while he was alive. Jackson died June 25 in Los Angeles at age 50.
The filings also note that the singer omitted his father as a beneficiary in his will and trust, and that any money paid to Joe Jackson would reduce the estate's assets available for Michael Jackson's mother and children.
An attorney for Michael Jackson's children said she has concerns about Joe Jackson's petition as well.
The children, Katherine Jackson and various unnamed charities are the only beneficiaries of Michael Jackson's estate. Katherine Jackson and the children are receiving more than $86,000 a month, and the administrators recently moved to increase the monthly stipends. The exact allowance amount has not been released.
Joe Jackson's attorney, Brian Oxman, said the opposition filing means the issue will now likely be decided after lengthy proceedings. "It's a pretty difficult thing to go through," Oxman said. "Michael took care of most of his life."
Oxman said he intends to prove to a judge, who will have to decide whether to award Joe Jackson an allowance, that the superstar supported his father.
"I was present when Michael would take care of his father," Oxman said. "I saw it happen. Lots of people saw it happen."
A former steelworker, Joe Jackson managed and trained his children and organized the Jackson 5. He has been married to Katherine Jackson for 50 years, but he lists his home in Las Vegas. She lives at a family home in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.
He is seeking payment for expenses that include $1,200 a month on rent for his Las Vegas home; $2,500 to eat out; $1,000 on entertainment, gifts and vacations; $2,000 on air travel and $3,000 on hotels.