Los Angeles, Aug 3 (DPA) Michael Jackson's family was in court Monday as it sought to gain greater control over the late singer's estate.

The court hearing was also expected to confirm a settlement that grants Jackson's mother, Katherine, custody of Jackson's three children, with Debbie Rowe, the mother of the two oldest kids, getting meaningful visitation rights.

Jackson left control of his estate in the hands of John Branca and lawyer John McClain, two music industry figures named in his 2002 will. But his 79-year-old mother is seeking to be named co-executor of the estate, and last week took on the executors asking for wide-ranging information about the estate, including details of his final contract with concert promoter AG for his 50-date comeback tour in London.

Jackson's lawyer Londell McMillan also cast doubts on the legitimacy of the will, saying it was not notarised, and had not been revealed to the family until it filed a petition in court stating that Jackson died without a will.

McMillan also disputed estimates that the Jackson estate was worth $500 million, saying that a more realistic value was $2 billion.