Michael Jackson’s Estate Reveals ‘Issues’ Over One of the Late Pop Star’s Ex-Wives in Plea (Exclusive)

Michael Jackson’s estate revealed it dealt with “issues” related to one of the late pop star’s ex-wives, whose identity was not revealed, as part of a plea for legal fees, Us Weekly can exclusively report.

Us obtained court documents filed by John Branca and John McClain, the two men who have been in charge of Michael’s estate since his death on June 25, 2009. He was 50.

Branca and McClain are requesting the court to sign off on fees to law firms that worked on the estate during the timeframe of July to December 2018. The entertainer’s probate case is complex and the fees take years to be approved.

In a February 2025 filing, lawyers for Branca and McClain detailed what one of the law firms worked on during the 2018 timeframe.

The lawyers explained that some work was done “addressing issues relating to Michael Jackson’s former spouse.” In addition, the firm handled “addressing a claim made regarding alleged ownership of rights obtained by a bankruptcy proceeding involving Joseph and Katherine Jackson.”

Michael was married to Lisa Marie Presley from 1994 to 1996 and Debbie Rowe, who is the mother to Michael’s children, Paris and Prince Jackson, from 1996 to 2000.

The motion said one firm worked on “extraordinary legal services relating to a wide variety of matters, “including: family allowance, accounting, one of Michael Jackson’s accusers, James Safechuck, a demand from a former manager, tax issues, and various other matters.

The filing revealed the former manager to be Tohme Tohme, who claimed he was owed over $5 million for services rendered to Michael between 2007 to 2009. The executors disputed the claim. The case was headed to trial in 2018. The parties eventually reached a $3 million settlement.

Other work done included defending a lawsuit brought by music producer Quincy Jones. The executors said the fees requested by the law firms relate “generally to services rendered in connection with various issues regarding [Jones] not dealing with his lawsuit.”

The executors said other matters included legal issues related to Michael’s former home, Neverland Ranch, and meetings with a potential buyer. The ranch, near Santa Barbara, was originally listed for $100 million in 2015. The estate listed it for $31 million in 2019. It did not sell until 2020 when billionaire Ron Burkle purchased it.

As Us first reported, Michael’s daughter, Paris, who is a beneficiary of the estate along with her two brothers, Prince and Bigi Jackson, recently objected to a portion of the requested fees. She claimed to have “serious” questions about the amounts requested.

In her motion, Paris’ lawyer argued, “During this [six-month period] alone in 2018, Executors request that the Court approve $625,000 in payments to three law firms for what they say is uncaptured time, without explanation as to why counsel was incapable of recording unbilled time, or why such a failure should not preclude payment.”

Her attorney added, “Even worse, these payments appear, at least in part, to consist of lavish gratuities bestowed upon already well-compensated counsel.”

Paris also claimed it appeared payments to law firms were made in “full,” which she said violated the court’s order allowing only “partial payments of attorney fees until court approval is obtained.”

The estate has yet to respond to the claims. A hearing has been set for later this month.