Los Angeles - Michael Jackson's mother was granted permanent custody of his three children Monday as his family went to court in an effort to gain greater control over the late singer's estate.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff affirmed a settlement reached last week between Jackson's mother, Katherine, and Debbie Rowe, Jackson's ex-wife and mother of his two oldest kids.

In his 2002 will, Jackson named his mother as the guardian of his three children.

Rowe is the mother of Prince Michael, 12, and Paris Michael, 11. Prince Michael II, also known as Blanket, was borne by a surrogate mother who had no parental rights, the court was told by Mrs Jackson's lawyers.

"It's in the best interest of the minors," said Beckloff of his decision, after reviewing consent forms signed by both Paris and Prince Michael, indicating that they want to stay with Katherine.

The court granted Mrs Jackson an undisclosed monthly allowance from her son's estate. Jackson's children were also provided a monthly allowance by the court.

The agreement does not involve any financial payments to Rowe "apart from the continuation of spousal support payments" that Michael Jackson agreed to make to Rowe after their divorce, their lawyers said in a joint statement. Rowe will get visits with the children as recommended by a court-appointed psychologist.

Beckloff confirmed music industry executive John Branca and lawyer John McClain as executors of Jackson's estate. Though the move kept control of the estate away from Jackson's family, the judge ruled that the executors should share details with family representatives of the singer's final contract with concert promoter AEG for his 50- date comeback tour.

Court filings Monday showed that the estate has already reached agreements with AEG and has received a life-insurance payout as well as other sums owed to the late singer. Under the terms of Jackson's will, 40 per cent of the proceeds from the estate are to be given to his mother, 40 per cent to his children and 20 per cent to charity.

Jackson's lawyer Londell McMillan had previously cast doubts on the legitimacy of the will, saying it was not notarized and had not been revealed to the family until they filed a petition in court stating that Jackson died without a will.

McMillan disputed estimates that the Jackson estate was worth 500 million dollars, saying that a more realistic value was 2 billion dollars. (dpa)