MUMBAI: The late singer Michael Jackson’s mother is in negotiations with his former wife Debbie Rowe, who is also the mother of his two older children, to settle a custody battle.

Jackson had named his mother – Katherine Jackson, as the guardian of his children, with pop diva Diana Ross as an alternate, in his will.

However, legal experts say that Rowe, who is the children’s birth mother, has a strong legal claim for custody. Rowe is willing to forego a fight for the children if their grandmother, Katherine Jackson, allows her more time to visit and guarantees that their grandfather, Joe Jackson, whom Michael accused of abuse, would never be named a guardian.

A custody hearing has been postponed for a week.