Fans of Michael Jackson embrace outside the late star's rented home in the Holmby Hills section of Los Angeles. (Nick Ut/Associated Press)

Michael Jackson's will, written seven years ago, gives his 79-year-old mother, Katherine Jackson, custody of his children and leaves his money in a trust, cutting out the star singer's former wife, Debbie Rowe.

It names entertainer Diana Ross, Jackson's lifelong friend, as a successor guardian of his three children and their estates if something happens to Katherine Jackson.

The will, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday, also names two executors: John Branca, a lawyer for the late pop star, and entertainment industry executive John McClain.

"The most important element of Michael's will is his unwavering desire that his mother, Katherine, become the legal guardian for his three children," Branca and McClain said in a statement on Wednesday.

Rowe, an Australian nurse, married Jackson in 1996 and filed for divorce three years later. During the marriage, she gave birth to the first two of his children: Michael Joseph Jr. and Paris Michael Katherine. After the divorce, Rowe gave Jackson full custody rights to the two children.

The third child was born using a surrogate.

Jackson, who died June 25 at age 50, owed millions but owned far more. Documents obtained by The Associated Press show Jackson had a net worth of $236.6 million US as of March 31, 2007, although less than $700,000 US of that amount was in cash.

That means a rich legacy for his children, with the net assets of Jackson's estate to be put into a new entity called the Michael Jackson Family Trust to be administered by Katherine Jackson.

Also Wednesday, results from a second, independent autopsy may also be released as police continue their investigation into Jackson's death.

Requested powerful sedative

A nurse who served as Jackson's nutritionist at one time came forward on Tuesday to say that the singer had so much trouble sleeping last week that he asked her for a powerful sedative normally only given by injection in hospitals.

"I told him, 'You might not wake up the next morning. You don't want to do that,'" Cherilyn Lee said.

Lee said she didn't give Jackson what he wanted, but she wonders whether someone else did.

Contrary to previous reports, a source close to the family said that a public viewing will not be held at the late singer's 2,500-acre (1,012-hectare) Neverland ranch in Los Olivos, Calif. – at least not on Friday.

The source said a funeral and burial appear more likely to take place in Los Angeles, but the Jackson family has not yet made a decision.

With files from The Associated Press