Katherine Jackson to File for Joint Custody of Prince , Paris , Blanket

Just two days after she temporarily lost guardianship over her three grandchildren (the late Michael Jackson's children), Katherine Jackson will file joint custody with the King of Pop's nephew, T.J. Jackson.

A lawyer for the 82-year-old Katherine said that the new arrangement will lessen the burden of day-to-day tasks that have proved increasingly difficult for her while still maintaining her authority as a guardian of Prince, 15; Paris, 14; and Blanket, 10.

Katherine lost her custody rights on July 25 after a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled that she had been unable to oversee the children properly due to the involvement of others. The judge installed Michael's nephew T.J. (son of Tito) as a temporary guardian over Prince, Paris and Blanket.

The "pleading will essentially now legally reflect how Mrs. Jackson and T.J. have often shared responsibilities of raising the children since Michael Jackson's tragic passing," Perry Sanders, a lawyer for Katherine, Told Tmz. . "[The arrangement] reflected wishes of [Michael Jackson's] children."

The new arrangement, Sanders notes, will still keep Katherine as the sole person in charge of the family's allowance, which is a reported $70,000 per month.

On Thursday, the eldest Jackson child, Prince, tweeted a series of messages that expressed his disapproval of the way his family had handled the recent drama. He said that Katherine had been essentially manipulated and lied to,then threatened to "continuewith the truth".

Katherine appeared to return home to the children in Los Angeles early Thursday morning.

"Mrs. Jackson is extremely pleased with the prospect of enjoying the pleasure of raising Michael's children without the day to day tedium of items such as managing the large staff that goes with such a high profile family and focus her attention on being a grandmother and raising Michael's children," Sanders said.

Katherine Jackson : All "Drugged Up" WTF

Katherine Jackson called her home in Calabasas at 2 AM today and again at 4 AM, sounding "drugged" and ordering that the security team be fired and replaced by Janet Jackson's security ... TMZ has learned.


A lawyer in court today made reference to "an incident" last night -- this is the incident. Sources involved in the situation tell TMZ ... people in the house were "alarmed and nervous" after hearing Katherine sounding heavily drugged.


In addition to attempting to 86 the security team, Katherine ordered Trent Jackson off the property. You may recall, Jackson's security -- and Trent in particular -- thwarted Monday's attempt by Randy, Jermaine and Janet to take the kids to Arizona.


Our sources say the prevailing view is that Randy and company have drugged their mom.


We're also told Jackie Jackson is furious at his conspiratorial siblings for what they've done and what they are trying to do.


TMZ were unable to get Randy for comment.


Katherine's lawyer, Perry Sanders, tells TMZ ... "I'm waiting on Katherine to get back in town and I'm looking forward to getting a hold of her to ascertain what's been going on."

Now the fun begins ... papa Joe just hit town

Because no Jackson family drama is complete without Papa Joe ... Katherine's estranged husband has finally come to town ... and moments ago, he arrived to the family's famous home in Encino, CA.


It's the first time we've seen Joe Jackson since Katherine was reported missing over the weekend.


Joe -- who spends most of his time in Vegas and rarely comes to L.A. -- pulled up at the Jackson compound roughly 30 minutes ago in a black Mercedes with Nevada plates, wearing his trademark fedora. We're told he checked the mail and disappeared into the home.


Katherine is currently on her way back to L.A.


No word on how long Joe plans to stay in town ... or if he plans to meet up with the family to try and end the drama.

Katherine Jackson's Attorney : MJ's Kids Were Ambushed

Katherine Jackson's legal team claims Michael Jackson's siblings have concocted a diabolical plot to remove Katherine from her home and her "beloved grandchildren" ... and part of the plan involved ambushing MJ's children.


Katherine's attorney released a statement saying, "Yesterday afternoon certain Jackson family members ambushed Katherine Jackson’s home after their vehicle tore through security gates on the tails of the SUV containing Michael Jackson’s children."


"After exiting their vehicles, Jackson family members ran up to Michael’s children as they yelled and began to aggressively grab at the cell phones in their hands. Out of concern for the well being of Prince, Paris, and Blanket Jackson, the children were forced to temporarily leave their home and have been taken to a safe location. An altercation ensued shortly thereafter and law enforcement arrived at the scene."


The statement continues, "Following the incident, it was learned that one of the family members who was part of the ambush admitted that a plan has been in place for the last three years to remove Katherine Jackson from her home and her beloved grandchildren."


"Prince, Paris, and Blanket Jackson have not heard from their grandmother since she left their home nine days ago to attend a series of her sons’ concerts on their Unity Tour. She never made the shows. Despite efforts to interview Katherine Jackson at her current location in Arizona yesterday, Los Angeles County Sheriffs confirmed that they were denied access to Mrs. Jackson by security for one of her children. "


The Michael Jackson Estate has also released a statement saying, "We are acutely concerned about the welfare of Mrs. Jackson, and most particularly with Michael's minor children."


The statement continues, "We are concerned that we do what we can to protect them from undue influences, bullying, greed, and other unfortunate circumstances. While we do not have standing to directly intervene, we have monitored the situation and will continue to do so. We believe measures are being put in place that will help protect them from what they are having to deal with."

Katherine Jackson : What's All The Fuss "WTF"

Katherine Jackson is at a fancy spa in Tucson, Arizona, but the big question now ... why did she effectively abandon Michael Jackson's 3 kids?


Sources tell us ... Michael Jackson's siblings took Katherine from the family compound in Encino, CA to the Arizona spa, because they feel "the house is utter chaos" and Katherine is exhausted.


Here's the mystery ... Paris and presumably the other 2 kids were never told Katherine was leaving and it's been a week since they've seen her. So why would Michael's brothers and sisters yank Katherine from the home when she is the only parental link to the 3 kids who are still coping with their father's death?


Sources familiar with the situation tell us ... there's a "concerted effort" to get Katherine on board to challenge Michael Jackson's will and get the Executors removed. In addition to Randy and Jermaine, Rebbie and Janet are also on board, although it's unclear exactly how much Jackie supports the move.

Michael's siblings have a lot to gain if the will is invalidated, because it cuts them out of Michael's fortune, and once Katherine dies all the money is firmly earmarked to MJ's kids, charity, and that's it.


The L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. is still treating the report that Katherine went missing as an open investigation and they are doing a follow-up to make sure she's ok .

Katherine Jackson : At Arizona Spa -

Katherine Jackson is alive and well in Arizona, though she's playing her cards close to her vest.

TMZ broke the story ... Michael Jackson's siblings whisked Katherine away to a spa in Tucson to help her escape what they called the "utter chaos" of the Jackson family home in Encino. Apparently no one told Katherine's nephew, who reported her missing Saturday night.


Now, a photo of Katherine at the Arizona spa has surfaced -- showing her playing UNO with her daughter Rebbie, her granddaughter Stacy, and her great grandson London.


Katherine is supposedly relaxing and having a good time.


Not pictured: MJ's children ... who Katherine abandoned in L.A. during her getaway.

[UPDATE] Katherine Jackson ... Missing

[UPDATE]
11:40 AM PT -- A source tells the AP that Katherine is is with her daughter Rebbie and has been prescribed rest by a physician.

9:30 AM PT -- Katherine's lawyer released a statement, saying in part, "Concerned family members, particularly Michael's children, have since made ongoing pleas to those believed to have knowledge of her location for information regarding her whereabouts. The only reports provided have been both conflicting and confusing -- especially those pertaining to the status of Katherine Jackson's health. When Michael's children last saw their grandmother on July 15, 2012, she was in great health physically as well as mentally."


She continued, "Prince, Paris, and Blanket are the light of Katherine Jackson's life, as she is to those children. Out of concern for Mrs. Jackson's well-being and in an effort to ensure her being safely reunited with her grandchildren as soon as possible, a report was filed on Saturday with the Sheriff's Department who will be investigating this matter."

4:44 AM PT -- The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department issued a release that says, "Katherine Jackson is reportedly with family members. Late Saturday night, a different family member reported that he was unable to speak with her and is concerned for her well being. Deputies are continuing to make efforts to reach her and ask that she contact the Malibu / Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department."
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Katherine Jackson

has been reported missing by her nephew late Saturday night ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.


According to our sources, a nephew of Katherine's filed a missing person's report with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department after her grandchildren had been unable to reach her for over a week.


Jermaine Jackson tweeted earlier this week that Katherine was in Arizona resting up on doctor's orders. But early this morning, Paris Jackson tweeted, "yes, my grandmother is missing. i haven't spoken with her in a week i want her home now."


She followed that up with a plea for people to call the authorities if they see her, then added, "the same doctor that testified on behalf of dr murray saying my father was a drug addict (a lie) is caring for my grandmother... just saying."


Katherine Jackson's lawyer told CNN she has never gone more than 24 hours without speaking to her grandchildren.


As TMZ previously reported, the Jackson family has been feuding of late ... with Randy, Jermaine, Tito, Rebbie and Janet Jackson seeking to have the executors of the Michael Jackson Estate resign from their positions.


A letter that leaked on the internet, written by the aforementioned Jacksons, claimed that John Branca and John McClain had "taken advantage of the family ... and have stressed out Katherine Jackson so much, that she recently suffered a "mini-stroke.'"

A word to the wise ...regardless if John Branca and John McClain was taking advantage of the family estate ... no way would katherine not leave a phne number or some way for Michael's kids get in touch with her ... something stinks in Demark .... just saying and that's the way I roll .