Everybody seems to have a fascination with celebrities — even when they have died. Your lawblogger has reported on controversies and conundrums arising after the deaths of Whitney Huston, James Brown Rosa Parks and others. Recently, we have seen a spate of stories concerning the estate of Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop".

Here is an article written by attorney Brian Mekdsy of Massachusetts. Mr. Mekdsy has some valuable observations based upon Michael Jackson’s estate and how to avoid many of the pitfalls that have plagued it. It is important to learn from the mistakes of others to avoid making similar mistakes. Remember that while we generally do not have the wealth of the celebrities we follow, we are subject to making the same mistakes that they make —but keep in mind that these errors tend to be more painful and costly when we make them!