Date Published: 07/01/09

Michael Jackson's Will: Give my 3 kids to Diana Ross if my mum dies

MICHAEL Jackson wanted Diana Ross to care for his children when his own mother died, his will revealed today.

The pop superstar said his mother Katherine should get custody of his three children if he died.

But the last paragraph of the will states: "If Katherine Jackson fails to survive me, or is unable or unwilling to act as guardian, I nominate Diana Ross as guardian of the persons and estates of such minor children."

Details of Jackson's will emerged today after it was filed at a Los Angeles court.

The superstar's last wishes leave his entire estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust.

It states: "I give my entire estate to the Trustee or Trustees."

The will - which is five pages long - says the trust will provide for his children Prince Michael I, aged 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II, seven.

The document - dated July 7, 2002 - also declares that Jackson is not married.

It also says Jackson has cut his former wife Debbie Rowe out of his will.

The will says: "I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife Deborah Row Jackson."

When the will was drawn up in 2002 it estimated his estate was worth more than $500MILLION (£300million).

The documents said Jackson's estate consisted almost entirely of "non-cash, non-liquid assets, including primarily an interest in a catalogue of music royalty rights which is currently being administered by Sony ATV and the interests of various entities".

Jackson's lawyer John Branca, music exec John McClain and accountant Barry Siegel are named as co-executors.

But Siegel resigned from his role as executor in 2003.

In a statement Branca and McClain said: "The most important element of Michael's will is his unwavering desire that his mother, Katherine, become the legal guardian for his three children."

Part of Jackson's fortune will also be distributed to several charities.