LOS ANGELES (AP):

Michael Jackson's private family funeral was fit for a king and had a price tag to match: roughly US$1 million, according to court documents released on Tuesday.

Although Jackson died in June and had a large public tribute at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in July, the private family funeral held September 3 appeared to have been arranged with urgency.

Legal requests for payments filed with estate administrators by attorneys for Michael Jackson's mother only three days before the scheduled burial noted that if payment were not received by the funeral home and the Glendale Police Department by September 1, "the funeral will not proceed".

The lawyers warned that such a development would cause Katherine Jackson and the family "public embarrassment and added grief, along with the daunting task of having to make new arrangements".

Final tally

There was no indication of resistance by the administrators, who approved payment of all expenses and reimbursement of Michael Jackson's sister, Janet, for an advance payment to Forest Lawn-Glendale of US$49,000.

The final tally of costs included US$855,730 to Forest Lawn for cemetery and funeral charges including the purchase of other plots within the same mausoleum that houses Jackson's body.

Also listed were US$35,000 for burial garments, US$1,975 for wardrobe for the family, US$2,000 for usher costumes, US$3,682 for framing of a photograph of Jackson next to the casket, US$959 for embroidery, US$11,716 for invitations and programmes, US$16,000 for flowers, US$30,000 for cars and security, and US$15,000 for a funeral designer. There was also a charge of US$21,455 for the funeral repast at a restaurant after the ceremony.

During the period that the family waited to bury Jackson, it was charged US$5,000 a month for holding the remains in a temporary vault.