The documents state that although Rowe is the mother of the two older children, her whereabouts are unknown. The document simply listed “none” for the mother of the youngest child, Prince Michael II.

The Jacksons say they have not heard from Rowe since their son’s death. Rowe’s attorney, Marta Almli, did not respond to an e-mail message seeking comment Monday. She previously said, “Ms. Rowe’s only thoughts at this time have been regarding the devastating loss Michael’s family has suffered.”

Sharpton said on ABC that the Jackson family’s status as a longtime show-biz family gives them valuable experience in dealing with the children.

“You must remember, they’re going to have to grow up as Michael Jackson’s children,” he said. “They need someone that understands that culture, that scrutiny, that unusual life they’re going to have to live.”

The legal steps were taken even as investigators continued their probe into the singer’s death. Officials with the Los Angeles County coroner’s office returned to the mansion he was renting at the time of his death and left with two large plastic bags of evidence.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said the bags contained medication. He declined to elaborate.

Lawyers for Jackson’s cardiologist Dr. Conrad Murray, who was with Jackson when he collapsed, said the physician never prescribed the powerful drugs Demerol or Oxycontin for Jackson and did all he could to revive the singer.

Attorney Matt Alford said it took as long as 30 minutes for paramedics to be called after Murray found Jackson with a faint pulse and performed CPR.

The delay was partly because Jackson’s room in the rented mansion didn’t have a telephone and Murray didn’t know Jackson’s street address to give to emergency crews, Alford said.

Eventually, Murray found a chef in the house and had him summon a security guard, who called for help while the doctor continued to perform CPR.

Lou Ferrigno, the star of TV’s “Incredible Hulk” who was helping Jackson train for a planned concert tour, said Jackson didn’t look like he was in pain the last time they met.

“He might have been a little thin because he was under a lot of stress because of the tour,” Ferrigno said on “Good Morning America.” But he said he believed Jackson would have made it through his concert tour. He said Jackson was a vegetarian who ate only one meal a day.

Jackson’s father told reporters at the family compound that his son’s funeral was still in the planning stages but added that his son would not be buried at Neverland.