Katherine Jackson gets custody of MJ kids

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles Superior Court judge Monday granted Katherine Jackson permanent guardianship of her late son Michael Jackson's three children.

The custody ruling came after the Jackson family matriarch reportedly reached an out-of-court agreement with Debbie Rowe, the biological mother of two of the late singer's children -- 11-year-old Paris and 12-year-old Prince Michael. Rowe, Michael Jackson's ex-wife, is said to have promised not to seek custody of the kids in exchange for visitation rights.

The mother of 7-year-old Prince Michael II has not been publicly identified.

Michael Jackson had asked in his will that his mother care for his children. He died June 25 of cardiac arrest. The circumstances of his death are still under investigation.

ABC News said Judge Mitchell Beckloff approved Katherine Jackson's petition for guardianship Monday morning, describing the move as being in the "best interest of the children."

The two older children signed consent forms stating this is what they wanted, as well, the news outlet said.