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Court fight over Jackson's children

Michael Jackson's ex-wife and the mother of his two older children is in line to obtain custody of their children, even if the pop star designated another person as their guardian after his death.

The surrogate mother of the third child is unlikely to have a case.

Jackson left behind three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, aged 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, aged 11; and Prince Michael II, aged 7. The elder children were born to Rowe, while the youngest is his biological son, born to a surrogate mother.

It is presumed that Rowe would be first in line to receive custody of her two children. Rowe would have to undergo an evaluation by the court to determine if she's the best person to care for Jackson's children.

So, too, would anyone else who applies to become the children's guardian - some of whom may have Jackson's blessing.

Rowe, a former nurse for Jackson's dermatologist, married Jackson in 1996 but filed for divorce in 1999. She later gave up her custody rights to the children, but petitioned to have those rights restored in 2003 after Jackson was arrested on child molestation charges, and an appeals court sided with her.

Jackson was by several accounts an attentive and loving father, who protected his childrens identity and privacy.

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