Paris Jackson’s Legal Challenge to Father’s Estate Faces Setback

Paris Jackson’s legal confrontation with the executors of Michael Jackson’s estate has encountered a significant obstacle after a Los Angeles court partially dismissed her petition. The judge also ordered her to pay a portion of the estate’s attorneys’ fees, intensifying a long-running dispute over transparency, financial oversight, and the management of one of the entertainment world’s most high-profile estates.

Since Michael Jackson’s death in 2009, his estate has remained a subject of extensive legal scrutiny. At the time of the pop icon’s passing, the estate carried nearly $500 million in debt, much of it in default. Executors John Branca and John McClain were appointed to revive the estate, claiming they transformed it into a financially strong and profitable entity in the years that followed. Despite these assertions, Paris Jackson has raised a series of concerns questioning how the estate handles attorney compensation and related financial matters.

Her objections centered on a 2010 court order that allowed executors to pay attorneys “on account,” meaning payment could be issued before receiving formal approval from the probate court. Paris argued that this practice lacked adequate oversight and opened the door to irregular financial behavior. According to her petition, the estate allegedly made payments that were either unsupported by contract or insufficiently documented, including purported gifts of $250,000 and $125,000 to certain counsel. She requested that the court mandate the estate to file overdue compensation petitions for the years 2019 through 2023 within 90 days, asserting that these filings were necessary to maintain transparency.

The case was reviewed by retired judge Mitchell L. Beckloff, serving as a court referee, who issued a partial rejection of Paris Jackson’s petition. His ruling did not directly dispute the alleged payments but instead focused on the procedural adequacy and timing of her objections. The court granted the executors’ motion to strike several elements of her filing and determined that Branca and McClain were entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees. While parts of her petition remain active, the ruling represents a meaningful procedural setback.

A spokesperson for Paris responded by stressing that the decision addressed only technical matters and did not weaken the core concerns she raised about the estate’s conduct. They reiterated Paris’ commitment to pursuing fairness and accountability within the estate and confirmed that a revised filing would soon be submitted.

The tension surrounding the estate has grown alongside renewed public attention on Michael Jackson’s legacy. The teaser trailer for Michael, the upcoming biopic starring Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, recently broke global viewership records. Paris has been an outspoken critic of the project, calling the script “dishonest” and highlighting what she believes are major inaccuracies, which has further strained her relationship with the estate’s executors. The film is scheduled to release on April 24, 2026.

More than fifteen years after Michael Jackson’s death, the battle over how his estate is managed continues to unfold. Paris Jackson’s recent setback marks only one chapter in a broader conflict that blends legal complexity, family dynamics, ethical concerns, and the enduring global interest in the King of Pop’s legacy.