There were rumors that Michael Jackson’s last will was not Michael Jackson’s last will. There were rumors about what was in it. There were crazy women claiming to be MJ’s wife.

However, now it’s all out in the open. Copies of Michael Jackson’s last will have hit the internet. His last will is, in fact, the one written in 2002. I found a scanned-in copy of the will at The Smoking Gun.

Where the money will go

In Michael Jackson’s last will, regarding his money and property it says:

I give my entire estate to the Trustee or Trustees then acting under that certain Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust executed on March 22, 2002 by me as Trustee and Trustor which is called the MICHAEL JACKSON FAMILY TRUST, giving effect to my amendments thereto made prior to my death. All such assets shall be held, managed and distributed as a part of said Trust according to its terms and not as a separate testamentary trust.

Michael Jackson left his estate and his kids to his mother, Katherine. I wonder how he knew she would outlast him?

I guess that doesn’t really clarify who is responsible for paying all the money lenders MJ owes, but I’ll be honest — I didn’t read all eight pages of Michael Jackson’s last will. The will estimates his estate to be worth $618 million. Let’s not forget, though, this will is from seven years ago.

The kids are off to grandma’s house

It has been common knowledge for quite a while that Michael Jackson wanted his mother to have the kids in the event of his death. However, just in case there was any lingering confusion, the text is now available for all to see:

If any of my children are minors at the time of my death, I nominate my mother, KATHERINE JACKSON as guardian of the persons and estates of such minor children. 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.

Because of this stipulation that Diana Ross gets the children if Katherine is not around, many people have wondered about Ross’ age. She is 65. Michael Jackson and Diana Ross shared the screen in the 1978 movie release of “The Wiz,” and many sources refer to Michael Jackson as Diana Ross’ “protege.”

Old wives tales

Just to make it perfectly clear, in case Nona Paris Lola Ankhesenamun Jackson, the seemingly random woman who has been claiming for years to be Michael Jackson’s “secret wife,” Michael Jackson’s last will says:

I declare that I am not married. My marriage to DEBROAH JEAN ROWE JACKSON has been dissolved. I have three children now living, PRINCE MICHAEL JACKSON, JR., PARIS MICHAEL KATHERINE JACKSON and PRINCE MICHAEL JOSEPH JACKSON, II. I have no other children, living or deceased.

So, should any seemingly random women have intentions to cry “baby mama” to a Michael Jackson offspring, that issue has already been clarified as well. Good thinking. Michael Jackson’s last will also clarifies that Debbie Rowe gets nothing, in no uncertain terms:

Except as otherwise provided in this Will or in the Trust referred to in Article III hereof, I have intentionally omitted to provide for my heirs. I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife, DEBORAH JEAN ROWE JACKSON.

Off of Neverland

In other news of legal rights, it seems no one, not even Michael Jackson, is above the law. The plan was to bury him at Neverland Ranch, but people can’t go around burying bodies wherever they wish, and the Jacksons are no exception. X 17 Online reports:

In order to bury Jackson on the property, the family would need to get permission from local land-use officials and submit an application and paperwork with the state Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. The state application would then need to be approved by the funeral board, a process that could take anywhere from seven to 30 days.