Jackson Family Upset Over MJ Charities
Michael Jackson's family is upset over the charities that are supposed to get 20% of Michael's estate -- that's what family sources tell TMZ.
Here's the deal -- the family's concern is premature. No charities have been picked yet and no money will be donated for somewhere between 1 and 2 years.
Under the terms of the trust, Michael gave charities 20% of the value of his estate. Problem is -- no one knows how much the estate is worth and until it's determined, no money will go to any charity.
The creditor's claims are still being filed and we're told it will take between 1 and 2 years for the state and the probate judge to settle the creditor's claims and determine the net value of the estate.
As for who decides which charities get the 20% -- we've learned the trust provides for a committee of three people who will make that decision -- Katherine Jackson and co-executors John Branca and John McClain.
The trust doesn't specify how decisions are made if the committee is divided. It could be majority rule, it could be that each committee member gets to pick a certain number of charities or they could set other ground rules.
Go figure -- Michael Jackson didn't account for the possibility that people in his world might disagree.
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Neverland Owners Make Trademark Move
The company that owns Neverland Ranch hasn't gotten permission to turn Michael Jackson's old stomping grounds into a tourist attraction -- but they just filed a bunch of trademarks with the U.S. Patent Office just in case they do.
We just got our hands on trademark applications filed by the Sycamore Valley Ranch Company -- a company started by Colony Capital and Michael Jackson -- who is attempting to lock down the following names to use with the property: Neverland Ranch, Neverland Valley, Neverland Valley Ranch, and Neverland.
Sycamore also filed paperwork requesting to use the four Neverland names on several products and services including:
1) "Museum services - namely opening a museum in Michael Jackson's former home and providing tours ... providing theme park services."
2) Printed material (post cards, greeting cards, bags, non-fiction books about Michael Jackson, etc.)
3) Games and playthings (toys, dolls, roller skates, toy rockets, board games, playing cards, etc.)
4) For "providing facilities for business meetings and conferences ... retail and online retail store services ... mail order catalog services in the field of novelty, gift, and souvenir items"
5) Clothing, footwear, headgear
But don't get too excited yet -- we spoke with several members of the Jackson family who claim they were never asked permission by SVRC. In fact, Joe Jackson made it very clear, "Colony Capital cannot do this without our permission."
Katherine to Jermaine: The Show Must Not Go On
Katherine Jackson and other members of her family are angry at Jermaine over the Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna -- this according to various sources.
Members of the Jackson family along with others connected with the event claim Katherine was badgered into announcing her support of the September 26 event. The sources say Jermaine was complaining to his mom about all the bad press he was receiving and repeatedly asked her to support the Vienna event.
Our sources say other than Jermaine none of the other family members will be going to Vienna for the concert.
The sources say the family thinks it makes no sense to hold the first tribute event in a country that has no special connection to Michael Jackson.
One family member says it's another example of Jermaine doing what's best for Jermaine, regardless of what the rest of the family wants. The family member scoffed at the event, calling it "The Jermaine Jackson show."
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Michael Jackson -- Tales from the Crypt
Michael Jackson's body is already causing a market shift in the cemetery world -- the price of graves near his tomb are already sky-rocketing.
TMZ spoke with a sales rep at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale who told us plots surrounding Jackson have already gone up $2,000-$3,000 each since MJ joined the neighborhood.
FLM was selling pre-Jacko units in the mausoleum for $7,000 a pop -- now they're up to $9,900.
The cemetery rep tells us, "When a high-profile person comes in, it can affect the prices of the surrounding plots."
Some people who own private units near MJ's crypt are looking for a bigger payday -- one person is asking $34,000 for a double unit inside Jackson's mausoleum.
We spoke with owner of the double unit who told us, "We've had a tremendous response ... we're weighing all of our options."
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Randy Jackson: Don't Air Footage of MJ's Funeral
Randy Jackson is furious footage of Michael's funeral at Forest Lawn is being broadcast all over the world, saying it was a private event and not meant for the public to see.
Jackson just released a scathing statement condemning those who violated the no-fly zone over Forest Lawn last night -- asking all media organizations to refrain from airing any more footage of the event.
Here's Randy's full statement:
"As a family, we are all aware of how Michael's life, and his death, touched so many around the world. It is why we held a public memorial in my brother's honor.
And it is the reason we chose to release a small amount of footage leading up to yesterday's ceremony at Forest Lawn.
I was dismayed last night and again today at the coverage I saw on television of our ceremony for Michael. We had asked the media to respect the privacy and the sanctity of this event; to give us one moment of privacy to mourn as a family out of the public spotlight.
Unfortunately, despite a no-fly zone around Forest Lawn, many media organizations decided to ignore our wishes. They employed helicopters that not only surreptitiously recorded our private family ceremony, but also severely disrupted it.
I therefore ask today that media organizations airing helicopter footage of the ceremony we held for my brother immediately pull that footage from their air and refrain from airing it in the future."
Celeb MJ Impersonator at Jackson After-Party
After Michael Jackson's burial last night at Forest Lawn, his famous friends and family members gathered at an Italian restaurant in Pasadena for one last hurrah ... with one star busting out a fedora and an MJ dance move for a quick Jacko tribute.

After La Toya, Tito and Reverend Al Sharpton left the joint, it was MJ's old friend Corey Feldman who made the crowd go nuts by the valet stand. Sure, it was a little fame-whorish, but it was also kinda sweet...
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MJ's Funeral The Stars Arrive
UPDATE 8:10 PM PT: The Jackson family has arrived -- only an hour and ten minutes late.
Rest in peace, Michael Jackson.
UPDATE 8:00 PM PT: The Jackson family has still not arrived ... the service was scheduled to begin an hour ago. Some of the guests arrived around 6:30.
UPDATE: Lisa Marie Presley -- Michael's ex-wife -- just arrived. Corey Feldman is there too.
The star-studded crowd is arriving at Michael Jackson's funeral -- Liz Taylor, Barry Bonds, Macaulay Culkin, Mila Kunis, Chris Tucker, Al Sharpton and more...
Meanwhile, the family has still not left their Encino compound.
Does the fashionably late rule apply to a funeral?!
Jackson Family Heads to Michael's Funeral
UPDATE -- 7:32 -- Thirty-two minutes after the funeral was scheduled to begin, the Jackson family is finally LEAVING THE ENCINO HOUSE ... with a police escort. They should arrive at the cemetery in the next 30 minutes.
UPDATE -- 7:30 -- the cops are getting into position ... it looks like they might finally leave the house... we're holding our breath...
UPDATE: -- 7:19 -- The Jackson family is making Liz Taylor wait. Liz Taylor!!! She showed up on time ... and now she has to sit there waiting ... stop making Liz Taylor wait!!!!
UPDATE: -- 7:13 -- the funeral was supposed to begin 13 minutes ago, and the Jackson family has not left the damn house yet. Barry Bonds doesn't like to wait.....
UPDATE: -- 6:41 -- a bunch of people keep walking around trying to look important .. they keep opening and closing the gate ... we have no idea why they haven't left yet ... it takes more than 20 mins to get from Encino to Glendale ...even with a police escort.
UPDATE: -- 6:31 -- The gate is closed.... they're going to be late...
UPDATE -- 6:30 -- THE GATE IS OPEN!!
UPDATE: The Phantoms are all inside the gate, getting ready to head towards the cemetery.
UPDATE: THE PHANTOMS ARE ON THEIR WAY!!!!!!!
UPDATE: The Phantoms are parked at a hub a few miles from the house. They will be leaving shortly.
UPDATE: We're told the Phantoms are set to arrive at the house around 5:00 PM PST.
UPDATE: Several cars have entered the compound -- no Phantoms though ... yet.
The Jackson family is gathering at their Encino home -- where five Rolls Royce Phantoms are expected to pick them up and drive them to Michael's burial at Forest Lawn.
Macaulay Culkin Plans to Attend MJ's Funeral
TMZ has learned Macaulay Culkin has made plans to attend Michael Jackson's funeral tonight in Glendale.
Sources close to the situation tell us Culkin -- who became pretty close with Michael after starring in "Home Alone" in the early 90's -- has made arrangements to be at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park for the burial.
Macaulay Culkin's press agent Michelle Bega tells us, "I can confirm Macaulay Culkin was invited, but I cannot confirm whether or not he is attending the memorial service this evening."
The funeral is set to begin around 7:00 PM PT.
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Michael Jackson Burial -- The Bill
The Jackson family finally got the bill from Forest Lawn Memorial Park, which shows Michael Jackson's body has been in their possession since July 7 -- the day of MJ's memorial at Staples Center.
Yesterday, Katherine Jackson filed documents in L.A. County Superior Court, which contained the bill from Forest Lawn. The bill requests payment for security charges, barricade rentals and "temporary invaultment" of Michael's body from the beginning of July.
The exact cost of the bill has been redacted, but a lawyer for the special administrators of Michael's estate said yesterday in court that the final number for everything would be "extraordinary."
Katherine's request to have MJ's estate foot the bill was approved yesterday. In the docs, it says "Payment must be made as soon as possible if the family is to avoid the public embarrassment and added grief, in addition to the inconvenience, inefficiency and unhappiness, of having to make new arrangements for the funeral."
The docs also show the Glendale Police Department "indicated that they will not provide their services without receiving payment prior to rendering those services."
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Jackson Family -- The Burial After-Party
TMZ has learned the Jackson family has an after-party scheduled to begin right after Michael Jackson's funeral tonight -- a party they're calling a "Celebration of Life."
The family will go straight from the Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale to a place called Villa Sorriso Ristorante -- an Italian joint in Pasadena.
The restaurant's Executive Director of Operations has confirmed that Randy Jackson made the reservation several days ago and "bought out the facility for the night."
The exec also tells us several members of the Jackson family have been regulars at the place for years.
We're told the restaurant is expecting around 275-300 people to attend.
Gladys Knight to Sing at Michael's Funeral
We've learned there will be a special guest singing at Michael Jackson's burial tomorrow night: Gladys Knight.
Knight's rep confirmed the singer -- who knew Michael when he was little and once shared the same manager with him -- will perform at tomorrow's service.
The service will take place at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.
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Michael Jackson Burial -- Sugar on Top
Michael Jackson's burial will be in good taste -- right down to the delicious doughnuts.
Jackson's family had a minor obsession with the "Ricotta Doughnuts" from Market Restaurant in Stamford, CT -- and we've learned boxes of them will be shipped tonight for the service.
Here's the dessert's delectable description: Cinnamon-sugared doughnuts made with fresh ricotta, crushed amaretti cookies and a creme angalaise.
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Jackson Estate to Pay for Burial Costs
A judge just granted Katherine Jackson's request to have Michael's estate pay for the cost of the singer's burial.
Jeryll Cohen -- a lawyer for the special administrators of Jackson's estate -- said in court today that the expenses for Michael's burial on Thursday are "extraordinary."
But Cohen also said this isn't your run-of-the-mill burial ... and that the administrators "understand and appreciate" the scale of the event.
Jackson will be buried tomorrow in The Great Mausoleum at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.
Jackson's Auction Property Still in Limbo
The auction items Michael Jackson fought to have returned to him before he died are still not in his estate's possession ... and it's all because MJ's former manager won't let the auction house give the stuff back.
The drama began back in May, when Julien's Auction House filed documents saying they couldn't return the property to Michael because someone else was trying to claim it too: Dr. Tohme Tohme.
In new documents filed by Julien's, they say Dr. Tohme² still hasn't signed release papers for the property -- which is the final step in returning Michael's stuff to its rightful owner.
We spoke to Jerry Hawxhurst -- a lawyer for Julien's -- who said Tohme has had the papers for nearly a month. Jerry said if Tohme doesn't sign the papers within the next few weeks, he'll have to take MJ's estate and Tohme to court.
Jerry said this would be "completely unnecessary" and a waste of time and money.
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Jackson Burial Goes to Court
TMZ has learned Katherine Jackson has filed legal papers asking the judge in the Jackson probate case to have the estate pay for the burial.
Informed sources tell us lawyers for the estate will neither support nor oppose the motion -- but rather they will leave it to the judge.
A hearing is set for tomorrow at 9:30 AM PST.
The burial is set for Thursday.