Paris Jackson Accuses Father’s Estate of Wasteful Legal Practices

The ongoing legal dispute between Paris Jackson and the executors of her father, the late Michael Jackson, intensified recently as she accused them of misusing estate funds. In a court document filed in Los Angeles on February 26, 2025, the 27-year-old model and musician claimed that the estate’s handlers are deliberately inflating legal costs to prolong the litigation process.

This latest filing marks another chapter in a complicated legal saga. Paris Jackson has been at odds with the estate’s executors, John Branca and John McClain, for an extended period. The situation escalated in November 2025 when the executors submitted an anti-SLAPP motion, which the court approved. Paris Jackson’s legal team contends that this move was merely a tactic to delay her petition aimed at reforming the estate’s management of legal fees, arguing that it served no substantive purpose other than to generate further delays.

Dispute Over Attorney Fees

At the heart of the current controversy is the executors’ attempt to recover over $115,000 in attorney fees related to the anti-SLAPP motion. Paris Jackson is vigorously opposing this effort, with her attorneys labeling the expense a “waste of resources.” They argue that the executors had a responsibility to mitigate unnecessary costs associated with the legal proceedings. According to the recent court filing, the executors engaged the same law firms that received what Paris’s team describes as “improper payments” when they filed the motion.

Interestingly, the executors acknowledged that their anti-SLAPP motion was simply a “procedural” objection that could have been avoided by rewording the same pleading. This admission raises questions about the motivations behind the legal strategy employed by the estate’s executors.

Calls for Greater Transparency

This contentious legal battle is part of a broader concern regarding the management of Michael Jackson’s substantial estate, which has been valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. Although the estate has publicly reported that Paris Jackson has received approximately $65 million in benefits, she continues to advocate for increased transparency in how the estate operates.

Specifically, Paris is seeking insight into “premium payouts” and bonuses that the estate allegedly distributed in 2018. Her push for accountability reflects ongoing tensions regarding the management of her father’s legacy and the financial dealings of those in charge of the estate.

As the court deliberates on the request for the additional $115,000 in fees, the conflict between Paris Jackson and the executors remains unresolved, highlighting the complexities of navigating the legacy of a global icon.