A week after Michael Jackson died, his longtime lawyer and friend, John Branca, arrived at a meeting with the singer's family. He carried the pop star's will, and with it, the news on who would benefit from the King of Pop's estate. “It was very difficult,” Branca recalled. “There were a lot of family members there, his sisters and most of the brothers and his mother, Katherine.” He told them three things: Katherine would be guardian of Michael's three children and receive 40 percent of the estate. The children would also receive 40 percent. The remaining 20 percent would go to unspecified charities to benefit children. It also named Branca as co-executor, meaning that while the money went to the Katherine Jackson and the kids, Branca and music executive John McClain would be in charge of making it. Katherine Jackson's attorney, L. Londell McMillan, has asserted that she should be given “a seat at the table” in executing deals for the estate. He has also said the family is considering a formal challenge to Branca and McClain, suggesting the two may not be fit to run the estate because of conflicts of interest and other factors. McMillan would not comment Friday on specifics about those objections. Neither Branca nor McClain is unknown to the Jackson family. During more than 20 years as the pop superstar's lawyer, Branca, 58, was a principal architect of Jackson's financial empire. Branca plays down any conflict with the Jackson family. “Everything is going to be fine,” he said calmly during a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press. Branca said he played no role in advising Jackson on the will, but knew the singer did not want a family member in control of his estate. Jackson also felt he did not have to take care of his brothers and sisters, Branca said.
