Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris Jackson, has reportedly filed legal objections expressing "serious and substantial questions" about "irregular payments" made by the executors of her late father's estate.
According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly and corroborated by People.com, the 27-year-old is specifically scrutinizing a request for legal fees that includes "premium payments" for unrecorded attorney time dating back to 2018.
The legal filing, submitted on June 24th, targets a six-month period in 2018 where executors, identified as John Branca and John McClain, sought approval for $625,000 in payments to three law firms.
Paris Jackson's legal team alleges these payments were for "uncaptured time" without adequate explanation as to why the counsel was "incapable of recording unbilled time."
Furthermore, the documents claim that some of these "premium payments" were made to law firms in violation of a court order allowing only partial payment of attorneys' fees until court approval was obtained.
The filing suggests these payments appear, at least in part, to be "lavish gratuities bestowed upon already well-compensated counsel."
This challenge by Paris Jackson highlights the ongoing complexities and sometimes contentious nature of managing Michael Jackson's vast estate, which has been estimated at over $2 billion as of 2025.
The estate has been under the administration of John Branca and John McClain since the pop icon's death in 2009. While the executors maintain their actions are consistent with previous court-approved payments and have generated substantial wealth for the estate, Paris's concerns underscore a demand for greater transparency and oversight.
A source close to the estate, speaking to People.com, clarified that the "premium payments" in question are "relatively minor bonuses to three firms for work on the EMI catalog sale in 2018."
They explained that the estate, with the assistance of these lawyers, had purchased a 10% stake in EMI for $50,000 in 2012, which later sold for almost $300 million in 2018. The source asserted that "any business in this position would reward those who worked on that matter through the years."
Despite the estate's remarkable financial turnaround since Jackson's passing – from over $500 million in debt at the time of his death to a multi-billion-dollar empire – the administration has faced various legal battles and disputes over the years.
These have included a prolonged tax dispute with the IRS over the estate's valuation and objections from Michael's mother, Katherine Jackson, regarding a major sale of music rights to Sony.
While the estate has often prevailed in court, these ongoing challenges underscore the intricate balance of maximizing assets while addressing beneficiary concerns.
Paris Jackson's filing also expresses "concern" regarding what she describes as the executors' "gross lack of diligence in seeking the required Court approval for extraordinary fees and costs" for the 2018 payments, citing a lack of explanation for the delays.
Jonathan Steinsapir, an attorney for the Estate of Michael Jackson, told People.com, "The Executors' approval of payments to attorneys have been made with the same business judgment that has earned this Estate over $3 billion.
We are confident that the objected-to payments are appropriate as, indeed, they are fully consistent with payments made in the decade prior, all of which have been approved by the Probate C1ourt."
This latest development reignites discussions about the management of celebrity estates and the rights of beneficiaries to scrutinize financial dealings.
What are your thoughts on Paris Jackson's concerns regarding the estate's payments? Do you believe beneficiaries have a right to such detailed oversight of estate expenditures, especially given the success of the estate?
Share your opinions and join the conversation in the comments section below, and don't forget to share this article with others!
According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly and corroborated by People.com, the 27-year-old is specifically scrutinizing a request for legal fees that includes "premium payments" for unrecorded attorney time dating back to 2018.
The legal filing, submitted on June 24th, targets a six-month period in 2018 where executors, identified as John Branca and John McClain, sought approval for $625,000 in payments to three law firms.
Paris Jackson's legal team alleges these payments were for "uncaptured time" without adequate explanation as to why the counsel was "incapable of recording unbilled time."
Furthermore, the documents claim that some of these "premium payments" were made to law firms in violation of a court order allowing only partial payment of attorneys' fees until court approval was obtained.
The filing suggests these payments appear, at least in part, to be "lavish gratuities bestowed upon already well-compensated counsel."
This challenge by Paris Jackson highlights the ongoing complexities and sometimes contentious nature of managing Michael Jackson's vast estate, which has been estimated at over $2 billion as of 2025.
The estate has been under the administration of John Branca and John McClain since the pop icon's death in 2009. While the executors maintain their actions are consistent with previous court-approved payments and have generated substantial wealth for the estate, Paris's concerns underscore a demand for greater transparency and oversight.
A source close to the estate, speaking to People.com, clarified that the "premium payments" in question are "relatively minor bonuses to three firms for work on the EMI catalog sale in 2018."
They explained that the estate, with the assistance of these lawyers, had purchased a 10% stake in EMI for $50,000 in 2012, which later sold for almost $300 million in 2018. The source asserted that "any business in this position would reward those who worked on that matter through the years."
Despite the estate's remarkable financial turnaround since Jackson's passing – from over $500 million in debt at the time of his death to a multi-billion-dollar empire – the administration has faced various legal battles and disputes over the years.
These have included a prolonged tax dispute with the IRS over the estate's valuation and objections from Michael's mother, Katherine Jackson, regarding a major sale of music rights to Sony.
While the estate has often prevailed in court, these ongoing challenges underscore the intricate balance of maximizing assets while addressing beneficiary concerns.
Paris Jackson's filing also expresses "concern" regarding what she describes as the executors' "gross lack of diligence in seeking the required Court approval for extraordinary fees and costs" for the 2018 payments, citing a lack of explanation for the delays.
Jonathan Steinsapir, an attorney for the Estate of Michael Jackson, told People.com, "The Executors' approval of payments to attorneys have been made with the same business judgment that has earned this Estate over $3 billion.
We are confident that the objected-to payments are appropriate as, indeed, they are fully consistent with payments made in the decade prior, all of which have been approved by the Probate C1ourt."
This latest development reignites discussions about the management of celebrity estates and the rights of beneficiaries to scrutinize financial dealings.
What are your thoughts on Paris Jackson's concerns regarding the estate's payments? Do you believe beneficiaries have a right to such detailed oversight of estate expenditures, especially given the success of the estate?
Share your opinions and join the conversation in the comments section below, and don't forget to share this article with others!
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