评论
打印
【英文原文】
Michael Jackson's Will Leaves Estate To Family Trust
摘要：据知情人士透露，迈克尔•杰克逊(Michael Jackson)的遗嘱将财产留给一个家族信托基金，该基金将把巨额财产分给他的三个孩子、他母亲以及慈善团体。这份遗嘱订立已有7年。
Michael Jackson's seven-year-old will bequeaths his estate to a family trust, which in turn is to distribute his sizable assets among his three children, his mother and charities, according to people with knowledge of the trust's terms.
The document, signed by Mr. Jackson and dated July 7, 2002, was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Wednesday morning. But the terms of the Michael Jackson Family Trust haven't been made public. It isn't clear if or when they will be.
The trust makes a provision for the payment of estate taxes, which could be considerable given that the value of Mr. Jackson's assets may exceed his massive debts by as much as $200 million.
The trust makes no provision for Mr. Jackson's father, Joe, according to the people familiar with its terms.
The will appoints Mr. Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, guardian of his three children. In the event that Mrs. Jackson, 79, weren't alive, the will names pop star Diana Ross, a longtime friend of Mr. Jackson's, as guardian.
The will names as co-executors Mr. Jackson's longtime attorney, John Branca, and John McClain, a personal friend and veteran music executive who worked on Mr. Jackson's final studio album, 'Invincible.'
A third executor, accountant Barry Siegel, resigned from that position in 2003, according to a statement from a spokesman for the estate hired by Messrs. Branca and McClain.
Though the distribution of assets called for in the paperwork appears to be straightforward, the situation may be contentious nonetheless.
L. Londell McMillan, a sometime lawyer for Mr. Jackson who said he now represents the singer's parents, made a court filing Monday saying he didn't believe Michael Jackson had a valid will. Mr. McMillan issued a subsequent statement acknowledging the existence of the 2002 will, but didn't respond immediately to emails Wednesday asking if he intends to contest it.
The will states that Mr. Jackson deliberately made no provision for his ex-wife, Debbie Rowe.
Meanwhile, funeral plans appeared to edge closer to clarity, with a statement from Mr. Jackson's family ruling out a public event at Neverland Valley Ranch, Mr. Jackson's 2,600-acre estate in Santa Barbara County, California. Such an event had been widely rumored earlier in the week.
A funeral is likely to take place in Los Angeles, possibly at the 20,000-seat Staples Center. 'Plans are under way regarding a public memorial for Michael Jackson, and we will announce those plans shortly,' the statement said. People close to the singer's family said Katherine Jackson would have final say over funeral arrangements.
Mr. Jackson died Thursday at age 50. He is survived by three children: Prince Michael Jackson Jr., 12; a daughter, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11; and another son, seven-year-old Prince Michael Jackson II. Katherine Jackson was granted temporary guardianship Monday of Mr. Jackson's children.
A judge held off on requests to control the children's estates and gave her limited control over some of her son's personal belongings, pending a hearing Monday.
