Paris Jackson Accuses Attorneys of Skimming Money from Michael Jackson's Estate

Paris Jackson has asked a judge to step in over what she calls questionable legal payouts tied to her father, Michael Jackson’s, estate.

In a new filing obtained by Us Weekly, Paris alleges a “closely-knit” group of high-powered attorneys has been “skimming money from the Estate, in plain view,” and urges tighter court oversight of fees.

According to the motion, the estate’s executors—John Branca and John McClain, who have managed Michael’s affairs since his 2009 death—should be ordered to produce detailed paperwork for legal fees paid to third-party firms from 2019 to 2023.

Paris also requests that the court require only partial payments until the invoices are formally approved. She says the petition is meant “to protect the rights and interests” of the beneficiaries: Paris and her brothers, Prince and Bigi.

The model's filing flags what her team describes as delayed approvals and “non-contractual” gratuities to counsel. Her lawyer cites a “profound delay” in seeking court approval for extraordinary fees and points to $125,000 and $250,000 gifts to attorneys, calling the disclosures “concerning.”

The filing claims that the lag “obscured the payment” of such gifts and states that beneficiaries had previously objected to the practice. Paris notes she privately raised concerns in 2018 but alleges “at least $500,000 in gifts to counsel” was paid eight months later. She proposes appointing a third executor to supervise counsel and day-to-day finances independently.

The estate strongly rejects the accusations. Jonathan Steinsapir, attorney for the Estate of Michael Jackson, said the “historic turnaround and success of the Estate” has generated “billions of dollars” for Michael’s children, and that the same business judgment informed compensation for a “world-class legal team.”

He called the claims by Paris's current lawyers “baseless and defamatory,” adding the estate is confident the court will again approve its accountings as it has for the past 16 years.

The filing follows a July petition in which Paris objected to fees sought for work done between July and December 2018. Her motion also challenges the $625,000 requested for “uncaptured time” by three firms and alleges that some full payments were made where only partial payments had been authorized, pending court approval.