Michael Jackson's will leaves estate to trust, and names Diana Ross as possible guardian to his children

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Michael Jackson’s will, made seven years ago, gives his estate to a family trust for his children and names his mother as their guardian. His former wife, Debbie Rowe, is cut out of the will, as is his father, Joe.

The will names Diana Ross, 65, the singer and lifelong friend of Jackson, as a guardian to the children if his mother, Katherine Jackson, 79, is unable to take up the role. Katherine Jackson has already been granted temporary guardianship by a judge.

The document, filed in court in Los Angeles yesterday and dated July 7, 2002, gives his estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust, formed in 2002, and puts a value on the estate at that time at $500million, consisting almost entirely of “non-cash, non-liquid assets, including primarily an interest in a catalogue of music royalty rights, administered by Sony ATV, and the interests of various entities”. A more recent estimate of his wealth from two years ago put it at $237 million.

Jackson is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jr, known as Prince Michael, 12; Paris Michael Katherine, 11; and Prince Michael II, seven. Ms Rowe was the mother of the two elder children; the youngest was born to a surrogate mother, never identified.

Michael Jackson's will leaves estate to trust, and names Diana Ross  as possible guardian to his children