When a parent dies and leaves an estate behind, the children usually expect clear answers about where the money is going. A new court filing involving the estate of Michael Jackson shows how quickly that expectation can turn into a long legal fight. The amounts here are far larger than most families will ever see, but the core issue is common. Beneficiaries want timely, complete information, and they want the person in charge to be paid fairly for the work actually done. Here is how I, as a California estate and probate attorney, would explain this dispute to a family facing a similar problem.
What Happened
According to reports, Paris Jackson, one of Michael Jackson’s children, filed a motion in Los Angeles probate court on October 23 asking the court to lower the pay of the executor who manages her late father’s estate. Her motion alleges that the executor did not comply with an April 24, 2026 court order requiring updated financial accountings. A September 15 deadline was reportedly extended to September 30. The filing acknowledges that documents were turned in around the later date, but it alleges they were still incomplete.
The motion also alleges that the executor is asking the court to approve roughly $109.2 million in combined compensation over two years. That amount reportedly covers the executor, his late co-executor, and a law firm. Her attorneys allege that about $90.9 million of that total had already been paid out before the court approved it. They also point to an alleged gap of roughly $972,000 between individual compensation entries and a subtotal in the estate’s 2024 accounting.
She is asking the court to reduce the co-executors’ share from 15 percent to 10 percent of the estate’s gross entertainment-related income for 2023, 2024, and later years until complete and accurate accountings are filed. She is also asking to be reimbursed for her attorney fees and costs. The filing cites California Probate Code Section 12205. It states that she and her brothers have raised concerns about slow accountings since 2018.
A hearing is reportedly set for December 4, 2026, before a judicial referee. The court has not ruled, and all of these allegations remain contested.
Who May Be Liable
Probate disputes rarely look like a typical lawsuit. Usually a beneficiary asks the probate court to supervise, correct, or limit what a fiduciary is doing. A fiduciary is someone legally required to act in another person’s best interest. Depending on the facts, these parties could face consequences:
- The executor (personal representative). An executor owes fiduciary duties to the estate and its beneficiaries. If a court finds those duties were breached, the executor’s pay may be reduced. The executor could also be ordered to repay money or be removed.
- Co-executors or their estates. When more than one person serves, each may be responsible for how the estate was managed. If a co-executor has died, claims involving that person’s conduct may raise added procedural questions.
- Attorneys paid by the estate. In California probate, attorney fees for estate work generally need court approval. Those fees may also be reduced if delays were within the attorney’s control.
- A surety or bonding company. If the executor was required to post a bond, the bonding company could be responsible for certain losses. Many wills waive the bond requirement, though.
In the Jackson matter, the motion as reported asks for a cut in compensation and reimbursement of fees. It does not ask for broader damages.
Legal Theories That May Apply
- Breach of fiduciary duty: An executor who fails to manage the estate carefully, honestly, or transparently may be held responsible for resulting harm.
- Reduction of compensation for delay (Probate Code Section 12205): A court may lower an executor’s or attorney’s pay if administration took longer than allowed, the delay was within their control, and it did not serve the estate’s interests.
- Petition to compel an accounting: Beneficiaries can ask the court to order a detailed accounting when the executor has not provided one.
- Objections to an accounting and surcharge: Beneficiaries can challenge entries in a filed accounting. A surcharge is a court order requiring the fiduciary to personally repay losses or improper payments.
- Unauthorized compensation: Executor fees in California generally require court authorization, even when the estate is administered with less court oversight. Paying fees early without approval may be challenged.
- Petition for removal: A court may remove an executor for reasons such as mismanagement or failure to follow court orders.
- Wrongful taking in bad faith (Probate Code Section 859): If estate property is taken in bad faith, California law may allow recovery of up to twice its value.
Damages Victims May Recover
In probate, the word “remedies” usually fits better than “damages.” Depending on the evidence, a beneficiary may be able to seek:
- Reduced fees for the executor or estate attorneys
- Repayment of compensation taken without proper court approval
- Surcharge for losses caused by mismanagement, including lost interest or lost profits in some cases
- Double damages under Probate Code Section 859 where a bad-faith taking is proven
- Attorney fees and costs in limited circumstances, depending on the statute and the facts
- Removal of the executor and appointment of a successor
Emotional distress awards are generally not part of a probate accounting dispute. Your options will depend on your specific claims.
Evidence That Strengthens a Case
Cases like this are won with paper. Useful evidence includes:
- Court orders setting accounting deadlines, along with proof of when filings were actually made
- Every filed accounting and its supporting schedules
- Bank and brokerage statements for estate accounts
- Orders or agreements setting the executor’s compensation, including any later changes
- Written requests for information and the responses, or lack of responses
- Billing records and fee petitions from estate attorneys
- Contracts that generate estate income, such as licensing or royalty agreements
- An independent review by a forensic accountant
- A timeline showing how long beneficiaries have waited for information
What to Do Next
If you suspect an estate is being mishandled, take these steps:
- Put requests in writing. Ask for accountings and documents by email or letter, and keep copies.
- Read every court notice. Objections usually must be filed before the hearing on an accounting. Once a court approves an account, it can be very hard to reopen.
- Don’t sign waivers or releases quickly. Beneficiaries are sometimes asked to waive an accounting or sign a receipt. Have a lawyer review it first.
- Keep your own timeline. Note missed deadlines, unanswered requests, and unexplained payments.
- Talk to counsel before talking to the executor’s lawyer. That attorney represents the executor, not you.
- Act promptly. Deadlines in probate and trust matters can be short, and they vary depending on whether you are dealing with a will or a trust.
If you or a loved one is a beneficiary who has been left in the dark about an estate or trust, you don’t have to sort it out alone. LA | Estate Plans helps California families review accountings, raise objections, and hold fiduciaries to their obligations. Visit https://laestateplans.com to schedule a confidential conversation about your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I challenge how much an executor is getting paid in California?
Yes. Executor compensation in California probate is generally subject to court approval, and beneficiaries can file objections. A court may also reduce compensation under Probate Code Section 12205 if delays were within the executor’s control and did not benefit the estate.
How is an executor’s pay normally calculated in California?
In many estates, pay is based on a statutory percentage schedule tied to the estate’s value under Probate Code Section 10800. An executor can also ask for extra pay for extraordinary services, and a will may set different terms. Large or unusual estates, like the one in the Jackson dispute, may operate under court-approved arrangements.
What can I do if the executor won’t give me an accounting?
You can ask the probate court to order the executor to file one. If the executor still does not comply, the court may impose consequences, which could include reduced compensation or removal. Keeping written records of your requests can help your case.
Can an executor pay themselves before the court approves it?
In most California probate administrations, an executor needs court authorization before taking compensation. Partial payments may be allowed by court order in some cases. Payments made without proper approval may be challenged, and the executor could be ordered to repay them.
Can I get an executor removed in California?
Possibly. California courts may remove an executor for reasons such as mismanaging estate property, failing to follow court orders, or conflicts of interest. Removal is a serious step, so strong documentation is usually important.
How long do I have to object to an estate accounting?
Objections generally must be filed before or at the hearing where the court considers approving the accounting. Once the court approves an account, reopening it is typically difficult without a showing like fraud. For trusts, different deadlines may apply, so it is wise to speak with a lawyer as soon as you receive an accounting.
Will I have to pay my own lawyer to fight the executor?
Often, beneficiaries pay their own legal fees at first. In certain situations, a court may order fees to be reimbursed or shifted, depending on the statute involved and the executor’s conduct. In the Jackson matter, the motion reportedly asks for reimbursement of attorney fees, but the court has not ruled on that request.
Original reporting: radaronline.com.