Paris Jackson is asking a Los Angeles judge to order $600 million transferred from her late father Michael Jackson's estate into a family trust for her and her two brothers, accusing longtime executor John Branca of withholding control over their inheritance more than 17 years after the singer's death.
In a petition filed Thursday, October 29, 2026, Jackson, 28, claims the estate has accumulated enough cash to begin funding the trust intended for her, Prince, 29, and Bigi, 24. Her attorneys accuse Branca of maintaining an "iron grip" over distributions, while the estate argues that an unresolved federal tax dispute prevents it from fully funding the trusts.
According to the petition, the estate held approximately $850 million in cash and cash equivalents at the end of 2024. Jackson's attorneys estimate that roughly $600 million remains available for transfer after accounting for debts and other obligations, and are asking the court to order that amount, or another sum it considers appropriate, placed into the family trust.
Michael Jackson's estate plan provides for his children to receive trust income beginning at age 21, with portions of the principal becoming available at ages 30, 35 and 40. Paris's attorneys argue that the trust should already have substantial assets under its control, rather than leaving distribution decisions to Branca and the estate's administrators.
The estate disputes her interpretation, maintaining that the trusts cannot be fully funded until a long-running dispute with the Internal Revenue Service is resolved. Representatives say more than $200 million has already been distributed to or spent for the benefit of Jackson's children and that the estate intends to fund the trusts once its outstanding obligations are settled.
Paris's attorneys also accuse Branca of using his authority over distributions to discourage scrutiny of his management. They claim that payments to the three siblings were reduced by millions of dollars after she began challenging the estate's administration. The estate called that allegation "a complete fabrication."
The latest petition follows Paris Jackson's challenge to more than $109 million in estate-related compensation, in which she questioned payments involving the estate's co-executors and an outside law firm while seeking changes to Branca's compensation.
Her attorneys have accused the longtime executor of prioritizing his own financial interests over those of Jackson's heirs. The estate has rejected those claims, citing Branca's role in transforming an estate burdened by roughly $500 million in debt into a business it now values at more than $2 billion.
Paris previously secured a ruling requiring the return of $625,000 in bonuses paid to three outside law firms. The decision, issued in April, followed her objections to expenses she argued were improperly charged to the estate.
The dispute over the estate's administration is scheduled to return to court on December 4, when the parties are expected to address outstanding financial and management issues. Paris is seeking an order requiring the transfer of funds into the family trust, while the estate maintains that its unresolved tax obligations prevent the requested distribution.
