Michael Jackson's dad is asking for an allowance from his son's estate to help cover expenses that exceed $15,000 a month. The request came in court papers filed yesterday by his lawyer, despite the fact that Michael's 2002 will omitted any mention of his father. The two had a strained relationship, and Michael said at one point that he would get physically sick at the sight of his father.

The singer's private trust calls for money to be paid to his mother, Katherine, his three young children, and various charities. A judge has approved more than $26,000 in payments to Katherine each month, and a $60,000 monthly payment for the children. The documents say Joe's only other income is $1,700 a month from Social Security and that he has relied for many years on Michael's money, passed along by Katherine.