Jermaine Jackson granted surname change

Jermaine Jackson's official request to alter his surname has been sanctioned.

The 58-year-old Jackson 5 singer and member of the famous entertainment family filed court papers last November petitioning to change his last name from "Jackson" to "Jacksun".

TMZ reports that a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge granted his request on Friday.

The website previously reported that papers submitted by Jermaine stated he wanted to change his name was for "artistic reasons".

Since a magistrate ruled in favour of Jermaine, he will be required to publicly announce his new name numerous times within the next few months in various publications.

Jermaine is brother to the late King of Pop Michael.

In a recent interview with British newspaper The Guardian, Jermaine lamented over his sibling's death in 2009 and the media furore surrounding the music icon before he passed
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"We are p**sed off," Jermaine explained.

"And I'm going to tell you why. They accused my brother of those false allegations of child molestation. To hear them in court saying all those horrible things… They knew he didn't do them, but they wanted to tear down his name and this family's name.

"I'll just say this. God blessed him because he knew what Michael was going to do with his talent. He was a voice for children who were starving, and he brought the world songs like We Are the World, Heal the World and Man in the Mirror. Everything he did was for the betterment of mankind."

Katherine, who is matriarch of the Jackson family and mother to Janet, Jermaine and Randy, is said to be furious with her brood as the fallout over tragic Michael's estate continues.

Her children Janet, Rebbie and Randy are apparently banned from entering her house, which is rented through the Michael Jackson estate and is also home to his three children after the siblings demanded the executors resign because they claim his 2002 will is a fake.