NOBODY really thought that dividing up Michael Jackson's estate was going to be simple, did they?

His parents, Katherine and Joe, believe that Michael died without a valid will.

TMZ.com, however, reports that Michael's attorney, John Branca, has a will signed by Michael that he intends to file within 30 days.

Meanwhile, Katherine yesterday asked an L.A. Superior Court judge to name her administrator of his estate so that she can ensure that his three children are its beneficiaries.

The court documents state that Katherine "intends to marshal assets of the decedent for the exclusive use of the decedent's three children - her grandchildren - after payment of debts and expenses of administration."

Watch the expenses, kids, watch the expenses.

Earlier yesterday, Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff granted Katherine's request to assume temporary guardianship of Michael's kids - at age 79, Katherine's going to be busy.

Beckloff scheduled hearings for Monday and Aug. 3 to take up the matters, including whether to also approve a request by Katherine to become permanent guardian of Prince Michael I, Paris and Prince Michael II (aka Blanket).

Since the family wasn't big on communication, it's not surprising that Michael never told anyone about who was to handle his business affairs, a person close to the family told the Associated Press. This person said that the family had been told by Michael's phalanx of sycophants and hangers-on that if he did have a will, it may be many years old.

In her request to take over the children's estate, Katherine listed its value as "unknown."

"Minor children are currently residing with paternal grandmother," the filing states in an explanation of why she should be appointed guardian. "They have a long established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care."

The declaration states that Deborah Rowe is the mother of Michael's two eldest children but lists her whereabouts as "unknown," even though numerous media outlets, of even the most dubious quality, were able to find her - and she has an attorney, Marta Almli.

According to the declaration, the children have no relationship with Rowe.

For little Blanket, born to a surrogate, yesterday's filing states "None" for the mother, which really would put a new spin on the notion of immaculate conception.

The filings show that family attorney L. Londell McMillan has joined a team of lawyers to coordinate Team Jackson attempts to take control of his affairs. These various cases may soon be employing more lawyers than a newspaper bankruptcy.

"I don't think there will be anybody who thinks that there is someone better" than Katherine Jackson to have custody, McMillan said yesterday on NBC's "Today" show. "She is a very loving host of other grandchildren."

Just wait until Joe gets his hands on them and turns them into a trio. Watch out, Jonas Brothers.

* Michael's funeral is still being planned, but father Joe said that the burial would not be at Neverland Ranch.

At an uncomfortable news conference outside the family compound yesterday, Joe, with the Rev. Al Sharpton standing dutifully by his side, said that the family was carefully considering how best to celebrate (understood by the cynical to mean "monetize") Michael's legacy. He also said that the family was waiting until they had a definitive word on the cause of Michael's death.

* On the curiouser and curiouser front, Dr. Conrad Murray's attorney, Edward Chernoff, spoke yesterday with Suzanne Malveaux on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer."