Michael Jackson's dad asks for monthly allowance

Michael Jackson's father is not in line to inherit any of the singer's estate but may be eligible for a monthly allowance, a judge said today.

Joe Jackson is seeking 15,000 dollars (£9,000) a month to cover expenses including hotels, eating out and gifts, legal documents show.

In a court in Los Angeles, his lawyers were told that the Mr Jackson was left off the will and as such does not stand to inherit anything. But Judge Mitchell Beckloff added that the family patriarch could pursue a motion to receive an allowance from the estate because his son had been supporting him financially.

Mr Jackson was told that he was not in a position to challenge the appointment of his son's will executors.

The judge told his lawyers: "I don't think he gets to step into this and create further litigation."

He added: "Joe Jackson takes none of this estate. This is a decision his son made."

Mr Jackson listed monthly expenses including 1,200 dollars (£717) for renting his Las Vegas home, 2,500 dollars (£1,494) for eating out, 3,000 dollars (£1,792) on hotels and 1,000 dollars (£598) for entertaining.

Earlier in the hearing it emerged that the pop singer's mother Katherine Jackson had withdrawn her objections to the appointment of the pop singer's long-time associates, lawyer John Branca and music executive john McClain, as will executors.

Her new attorney Adam Streisand said his client now believed the two men can "enhance the legacy of Michael Jackson in the best interest of his children."

But Joe Jackson's lawyer Brian Oxman accused Mrs Jackson of making a secret deal with the executors, a statement vehemently denied by Mr Streisand.

The judge set a date of December 10 for a hearing over Joe Jackson's allowance.

Michael Jackson died aged 50 on June 25 at his rented home in Los Angeles. The singer's relationship with his father was often strained - at one point he claimed he got physically sick at the sight of his domineering father.