Michael Jackson's mother will seek custody of his three young children, a lawyer for the late singer's family has told CNN.

In the first indication of a looming courtroom battle for Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II, 7, lawyer Londell McMillan on Sunday said Katherine Jackson wanted to be the children's guardian.

"She will seek custody of the children. She loves them dearly," McMillan told CNN on the sidelines of the Black Entertainment Television (BET) awards at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Katherine Jackson has been looking after the children since the sudden death of their superstar father on Thursday at the age of 50.

Jackson's former wife of three years Debbie Rowe is the mother of the two eldest children, while the third was born in 2002 to a surrogate whose identity has never been made public.

Although Rowe reportedly signed away her parental rights to Jackson, some family law experts believe she has a strong chance of gaining custody of the two children on the grounds she is the sole surviving biological parent.

But McMillan indicated Rowe would face a strong fight from the Jacksons in the event of any custody challenge.

"(Michael's) children are in great care with Mrs Jackson," McMillan said.

"They're in a loving environment. She's a great grandma. I couldn't think of anyone better for these children than a grandma like Miss Katherine Jackson and the loving support of family of the Jacksons."

AFP