Michael Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe won a court delay last week that will give her time to mount a custody battle for her two children against Jackson’s mother.

It’s a fight one local legal expert said Rowe has a good chance of winning despite Jackson’s will, which states the children should be raised by the King of Pop’s mom, Katherine Jackson.

“You cannot pass on your children like a stamp collection or a stock portfolio,” said Suffolk University law professor Erik Pritchal. “While the parent’s choice carries some weight, the court makes the final decision based on what is best for the children at the time of death - which may be different than how it looked to the parent at the time he wrote the will.”

Rowe has not yet stated publicly that she intends to fight to win custody of the children. However, last week a guardianship hearing was delayed until July 13 at Rowe’s request. Jackson has two children with Rowe: Michael Joseph “Prince” Jr., 12, and Paris Michael Katherine, 11. He has a third child Prince Michael “Blanket” Jackson II, 7, with an as yet unidentified woman.