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Katherine Jackson's Attorney: Custody Agreement For Jackson's Children 'Close'

Monday, Jul 27, 2009 | Updated 5:00 PM EST

Katherine Jackson's attorney said a custody agreement for Michael Jackson's children with Debbie Rowe is "close" and could be reached prior to the scheduled August 3 hearing.

"Whatever the agreement will be, [it] will not be based on money," attorney L. Londell McMillan told NBC's "Today" show co-host Matt Lauer on Monday morning.

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When asked if they were working to resolve the custody arraignments for Prince Michael, 12; and Paris Katherine, 11 – who Debbie is the biological mother of — as well as Prince Michael II, 7 – whose mother is an undisclosed surrogate – before an upcoming August 3 hearing, he said, "absolutely."

McMillan noted that despite how the media has portrayed the parties involved, the custody proceedings have been "very thoughtful, very caring" in regards to Jackson's children.

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"I want to say the parties have been very responsible," he said. "Debbie Rowe, her lawyers, Mrs. Jackson have been very thoughtful, very caring, very prudent, and we do believe we're very close to reaching an agreement, and this swirling speculation is just swirling speculation."

"We'll be making an announcement very soon," he told Matt. "What's best for the children is what Michael wanted and what has been happening: Mrs. Jackson to have custody of these children."

Jackson stipulated in a 2002 will that his mother be given custody of his children.

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As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, the custody hearing originally scheduled for July 20 was postponed until August 3.

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