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Michael Jackson Estate Seeks $115,000 in Legal Fees Amid Paris Jackson Dispute
Jan
The legal battle surrounding Michael Jackson’s estate has taken another costly turn. Attorneys representing the estate’s executors, John Branca and John McClain, are now requesting more than $115,000 in legal fees and costs connected to their ongoing dispute with Jackson’s daughter, Paris Jackson.
Court documents filed last Friday in Los Angeles outline the estate’s request for reimbursement following a successful anti-SLAPP motion granted by a judge in November 2025. According to the filing, the executors are seeking compensation for legal work related to defending themselves against portions of Paris Jackson’s July petition, which the court previously struck down.
The attorneys explained that the new motion was submitted to formally “account for the fees and costs incurred by the Executors in connection with the anti-SLAPP motion,” allowing the court to determine the final award amount. Under California law, parties who prevail on anti-SLAPP motions are entitled to recover their legal expenses.
According to reports, the estate is requesting $93,924.63 in attorney fees and $1,238.39 in costs directly tied to the motion. Additional fees may also be sought, potentially increasing the total amount beyond the initial $115,000 figure. Representatives for the Michael Jackson estate have not publicly commented on the filing.
The dispute stems from Paris Jackson’s legal efforts to challenge the administration of her father’s estate. In November, Los Angeles Referee Mitchell L. Beckloff ruled in favor of Branca and McClain, determining that several claims in Paris’ petition were based entirely on the estate’s own public filings and therefore subject to dismissal under anti-SLAPP protections, which are designed to prevent retaliatory or meritless lawsuits.
In response to the estate’s latest request, a spokesperson for Paris Jackson criticized the move, suggesting that the executors are prioritizing personal financial gain over transparency. The spokesperson stated that Paris has spent months raising concerns over what she believes are financial irregularities in how the estate has been managed and accused the executors of using legal tactics to extract more money from the Jackson family.
Despite the setback, Paris reportedly remains committed to pursuing accountability and oversight regarding her father’s legacy. She is one of three beneficiaries of the estate, alongside her brothers Prince and Bigi Jackson.
The conflict intensified again in November when Paris filed another legal action, alleging that Branca and McClain abused their authority as executors to enrich themselves. The executors have strongly denied these claims. In an earlier October filing, they asserted that Paris has already received approximately $65 million in benefits from the estate since Michael Jackson’s death in 2009.
That same filing also revealed that the late pop icon was more than $500 million in debt at the time of his passing, a detail often cited by the executors to justify their management decisions.
As the legal proceedings continue, the case highlights ongoing tensions between estate management and beneficiaries—along with the significant legal costs that accompany disputes over one of music’s most valuable legacies.
