Katherine Jackson, mother of the late pop star Michael Jackson, leaves the family home in Encino, Calif., on Saturday. (Chris Carlson/Associated Press)On Sunday, Michael Jackson's parents said they felt only they had the personal and legal authority over their late son and his children. On Monday, they pursued the matter in court.

Katherine Jackson, 79, filed a petition in Los Angeles for guardianship of her son's three children: 12-year-old Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, 11-year-old Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and seven-year-old Prince Michael Jackson II, who the late singer had once dubbed Blanket.

She also filed papers requesting to be appointed as the administrator of her son's estate, with her 80-year-old husband, Joe Jackson, joining in on the petition.

Though Judge Mitchell Beckloff approved the temporary guardianship, he did not grant her request to serve as the temporary guardian of the children's estate. A hearing on whether she can become the children's permanent guardian is set for Aug. 3.

Beckloff later ruled that Jackson's mother has the right to take control of the singer's personal property, which is now in the hands of a third party.

Late son 'a superstar all over the world'

Speaking to media Monday afternoon, Joe Jackson hailed his pop icon son as "a superstar all over the world, loved in every country.

"I was very proud of my son and the legacy of Michael will still go on," he added.

The elder Jackson admitted that he has not yet see his son's will, but said that his grandchildren were happy with other children their age at the family compound — "where they belong" — in the Encino area of Los Angeles.

"We're going to take care of them," he said. "Debbie Rowe has nothing to do with what we're doing."

In an interview earlier Monday, family spokesman and attorney Londell McMillan revealed he would file papers on behalf of the family for custody of the children. He added that they have not heard from Rowe, the mother of Jackson's two eldest offspring. The youngest was born to a surrogate mother whose identity is unknown.

Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson, left, Rev. Al Sharpton, center, and Marshall Thompson of the the band The Chi-Lites at a news conference Monday. (Charles Dharapak/Associated Press)"Minor children are currently residing with paternal grandmother," the filing states. "They have a long established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care."

On Sunday, the BET Awards in Los Angeles commemorated the life of Michel Jackson, with sister Janet and father Joe in attendance. The same day, Jackson's parents released a statement saying they solely had the personal and legal "authority for our son and his children."

McMillan also said the family was "quite clearly troubled" about the circumstances surrounding Jackson's death last Thursday, but that foul play was "too strong an indictment."

Jackson's family is awaiting the results of a private autopsy, following the one conducted by the Los Angeles County medical examiners on Friday.

Joe Jackson said Monday a funeral will come following the second autopsy.

In its preliminary report, the medical officials said there was no indication of trauma or foul play, but that Jackson had taken unspecified prescription medication. An official cause of death is pending due to additional testing.

Doctor never prescribed Demerol, OxyContin: lawyer

Dr. Conrad Murray, who had been the singer's personal doctor of late, has been under intense scrutiny since Jackson's death.

On Sunday, Murray's lawyer, Edward Chernoff, rejected speculation that his client gave or prescribed Jackson the painkillers Demerol or OxyContin, and denied reports suggesting the doctor gave him drugs that contributed to his death.

Chernoff said he didn't think that his client was "ready for this kind of attack" on his credentials and actions, but acknowledged that "it's expected, considering the circumstances."

After a full investigation, Chernoff said, he expected Murray would be exonerated and the family would feel differently.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Chernoff revealed that Jackson still had a faint pulse and a warm body when Murray happened upon the singer lying in bed and not breathing on Thursday afternoon.

The doctor immediately began administering CPR, he said, with paramedics also continuing to try to revive Jackson for three-quarters of an hour. He was pronounced dead later at UCLA Medical Center.

Another lawyer for Murray, Matt Alford, said it took up to 30 minutes for emergency officials to be called after Jackson collapsed because there was no phone in the room at the rented home and he did not know the street address.

After they were called, it took emergency officials only three minutes to reach the home.

With files from The Associated Press