Paris Jackson gets legal win as judge rules $625K returned to Michael Jackson estate
Paris Jackson has scored a legal victory after a Los Angeles judge ruled that $625,000 must be returned to the estate of her late father, Michael Jackson.
According to court documents filed on May 13, Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff sided with Jackson and rejected $625,000 in "bonus" payments that were paid in the second half of 2018 to executors John Branca and John McClain, who were paying third-party law firms representing the late musician's estate.
In June 2025, Jackson objected to the payments when executors asked the court to approve attorney compensation and costs for that 2018 period, saying that the payments lacked sufficient explanation.
Court documents also show that in July 2025, Jackson raised broader concerns about the estate's delayed fee and accounting practices.
During an evidentiary hearing, Branca testified that the estate had a "'historically successful year' in 2018 based on certain business transactions," according to court docs.
Yet, court docs said that Beckloff ultimately sided with Jackson, saying they "cannot find the bonus payments are just and reasonable based on the information provided."
In the ruling, court docs also say that Jackson is "entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys' fees."
In a statement to ABC News, a spokesperson for Jackson said this was a "massive win" for her.
"Paris has always been focused on what's best for her family and this ruling is a massive win for them," the spokesperson began in their statement. "After years of delay, the Jackson family will finally get the transparency and accountability measures Paris has fought for."
The spokesperson went on and said, "The Jackson Estate is supposed to be a prudent, fiscally responsible entity that supports the Jackson family."
"It's time for John Branca to acknowledge his many missteps and act in the best interest of the family he has a fiduciary duty to protect," the spokesperson said.
Following Beckloff's ruling on Wednesday, attorneys for Branca and McClain shared a statement with ABC News, saying that, while they disagree with the decision, "we fully respect it and plan to move forward accordingly."
The statement noted that, because of the work of the executors, "this estate has transformed from teetering on the brink of bankruptcy in June of 2009 when Michael Jackson died to the financial powerhouse that it is today."
"While the Court has previously approved several other bonuses to outside counsel over the years for their extraordinary services, and this was the first time they were the subject of objections, the Executors have always understood that legal fees are subject to court approval and have always required outside counsel to agree to return any funds to the estate if the payments were not approved," the statement continued.
It added, "And, to be clear, none of the $625,000 in bonuses -- which represent only a small fraction of the Estate's expenses for the period in question -- were paid to the Executors, and the court did not in any way say that the Executors had made any inappropriate payments to themselves."
In November 2025, Jackson sued her father's estate and accused Branca and McClain of abusing their roles as executors by paying themselves irregular "premium payments" and unexplained bonuses.
