Michael Jackson Will Details

A will written by late pop singer Michael Jackson has been filed in Los Angeles, with his former wife Debbie Rowe being left out of his estate.

Michael Jackson's financial problems were well documented. The singer was forced to leave his Neverland mansion due to spiralling debts, and a humiliating auction of his personal possessions was only halted due to the announcement of his O2 Arena residency.

With the singer's death on Thursday (June 25th) came a number of claims regarding his estate. Michael Jackson left behind him three children, and a financial background that was tangled to say the least.

In a will filed in a Los Angeles court, Michael Jackson's estate was valued at $500 million. However this was the amount in 2002 - before he was forced to sell the Neverland estate.

The will has already been contested and has become a huge talking point amongst his fans. The singer names former Motown label mate Diana Ross as the successor guardian of his children.

The two talents knew each other for decades, with the pair starring in 'The Wiz' - a black American rewrite of 'The Wizard Of Oz'. Long time friends, Diana Ross will become the guardian of Jackson's children should his mother die.

The entire estate has been left to the Michael Jackson Trust, which is split between his mother - Katherine Jackson - and his children. Jackson had two children by his first wife Lisa Marie Presley, named Michael Joseph Jr. aka Prince Michael and Paris Michael Katherine.

With his second wife Debbie Rowe the singer has one more child named Prince Michael II aka ‘Blanket’. However the will explicitly states that Michael Jackson will not provide for his former wife Rowe.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said during the hearing "I think we have a unique case here because the world knows that Michael Jackson has died. Clearly we are dealing with an international star."

In the will Michael Jackson names Branca, McClain and his accountant, Barry Siegel, as executors. In a statement, Branca and McClain said the most critical part of the will is his desire that his mother become the guardian of his children.

"As we work to carry out Michael's instructions to safeguard both the future of his children as well as the remarkable legacy he left us as an artist we ask that all matters involving his estate be handled with the dignity and the respect that Michael and his family deserve," they said.