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Katherine Jackson’s Lawyer: Custody Announcement “Close”

Michael Jackson's lawyer says a custody agreement for the singer's three children will "absolutely" be in place before an Aug. 3 hearing on the matter.

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"We'll be making an announcement very soon," L. Londell McMillan said on the Today show this morning. "I want to say the parties have been very responsible. Debbie Rowe, her lawyers, Mrs. Jackson have been very thoughtful, very caring, very prudent, and we do believe we're very close to reaching an agreement, and this swirling speculation is just swirling speculation.

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"We've kind of gotten together, and we've been thoughtful and prudent and we're working on an agreement that's going to be not just what's best for Debbie Rowe or Mrs. Jackson, but what's best for the two children that Debbie Rowe had," he continued. Katherine Jackson has been serving as guardian to Prince, 12, Paris, 11, and Blanket, 7, as Michael would have wanted, McMillan said.

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"When I first met Michael…from the beginning, [he said], 'Make sure to take care of my children and my mother,'" the lawyer said. "That's what we're going to do. "What's best for the children is what Michael wanted and what has been happening: Mrs. Jackson to have custody of these children," McMillan continued.

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And despite false reports that Rowe was asking for money to give up custody to her biological children, Prince and Paris, McMillan says: "Whatever the agreement will be, [it] will not be based on money." Rowe regaining custody is "not on the table," McMillan said. "Michael and Debbie Rowe had their agreement prior to his passing," he said."That is not on the table. That is not what we're dealing with, despite a lot of the public inquiries.

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