Michael Jackson's family secured temporary custody of the superstar's children today.
A judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court named the star's mother Katherine as temporary guardian.
Jackson's family is also reported to be filing a second petition seeking the right to be named temporary administrators of their son's estate.
Court officials have confirmed a petition relating to Jackson's assets had been filed.
A lawyer for the family, Londell McMillan has said that the family have not seen a copy of the star's will.
Members of the family are expected to meet activist Reverend Al Sharpton at the family compound in Los Angeles today to finalise plans for a fitting memorial for Jackson.
View a gallery of Michael Jackson's life & career
Reverend Sharpton said ‘I'm here to make sure Michael gets in death what he never got in life: he never got credit.’
He continued ‘He was not a freak, he's a genius, He was not somebody who was eccentric, he was innovative and that innovation smashed barriers and he should be given a lot more credit than he's been given.’
Reports have said Jackson's family is considering simultaneous memorial services around the world reflecting the huge global reach of an artist who sold more than €750m records.
Family members attended an awards show yesterday dedicated to African-American entertainers which became a star-studded celebration of Jackson's life, featuring an emotional tribute from his sister Janet.
‘My entire family wanted to be here tonight, but it was just too painful so they elected me to speak with all of you,’ Janet Jackson said.
She continued, ‘I'd just like to say that, to you, Michael is an icon. To us, Michael is family and he will forever live in all of our hearts.’
The family lawyer said the family was closely watching the progress of the official investigation into Jackson's death. The family hired a private pathologist who has carried out a second autopsy on Jackson.
Meanwhile lawyers for personal physician Conrad Murray who was with Mr Jackson in the hours before his death, has through his lawyer has insisted he was blameless.
Sales of the singer's albums have surged across the world since his death, and his music is expected to return to the top of various charts.
In Britain, HMV said there had been an 80-fold increase in demand for Jackson's music 'almost overnight' - the biggest one-day rise in sales seen for any artist, including Elvis Presley and John Lennon.
