Friday, September 18, 2026 - Michael Jackson’s estate has challenged a request by his daughter, Paris Jackson, for more than $1.16 million in legal fees following her successful dispute over payments previously made by the estate.
John Branca, an executor of Michael Jackson’s estate, filed
court documents objecting to Paris’ request for $1,165,481.90 in legal fees,
arguing that the amount is unreasonable. The dispute follows Paris’ challenge
to $625,000 in bonuses paid to attorneys for her late father’s estate in 2018.
A court ruled in Paris’ favour in April and ordered that the money be returned
to the estate.
Because her legal action secured a financial benefit for the
estate, the judge subsequently ruled that the estate should reimburse Paris for
reasonable legal fees incurred in obtaining that benefit. Paris then sought
$1,165,481.90 in legal fees. In its latest filing, the estate does not dispute
that Paris is entitled to reimbursement but argues that the amount she is
seeking is excessive.
The estate contends that her request includes legal fees
connected to other disputes in the broader case rather than only the work that
resulted in the successful recovery of funds. It also disputes Paris’
calculation of the financial benefit she obtained for the estate, arguing that
some of the money included in that calculation had been voluntarily returned
and should not be attributed to her legal efforts.
Branca maintains that Paris should be reimbursed for legal
work connected to the issues on which she prevailed and for the financial
benefits her efforts actually produced for the estate’s beneficiaries. The
court has yet to determine how much Paris will ultimately receive in legal
fees.
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