Lessons from Michael Jackson's Death

What Lessons can even the poorest person learn from Michael Jackson's death?

Answer: This is a prime example, for rich and poor alike, of one of the most important reasons to execute a last will and testament. Anyone who has minor children be they married, separated, divorced, never married etc., should take lesson.

You can see from this copy of Michael Jackson's Last Will and Testament that he named his mother Katherine Jackson to be guardian of his children should he die before they were the age of 18. He likely also provided for them until a later age, financially in his Michael Jackson Family Trust that earlier pages of the will reference. He also named a backup guardian of Dianna Ross, in the event that his mother was not able to serve.


Notice Michael Jackson did not nominate his mother and his father. This was smart because you never know what the status of couples can be at the time when they would be called upon to act. Although in Michael Jackson's case there were likely other reasons also influencing his choice to not name his father.

Now bear in mind that the probate court judge who officially approved Katherine Jackson to be the childrens' guardian could still have denied her petition and approved someone else. Usually this only happens when someone makes an allegation that the proposed guardian is unfit to be a parent. Possible reasons include a proposed guardian with a criminal background, who is a substance or heavy alcohol abuser or someone who has a history of child abuse.

But the lesson is clear, that the judges give the wishes of the person who died, the most weight absent a substantiated allegation that the proposed guardian is unfit.

I have not bothered to ascertain who drafted his Will, but in my opinion from what I have seen so far, the Estate Planning attorney did a fine job

ABOUT CHRISTOPHER R. TWINING
Christopher R. Twining, Attorney at Law, based in the Westwood Neighborhood of Los Angeles is an innovative estate planning, probate & trust administration, and elder law attorney. The Law Office of Christopher R. Twining serves the cities of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Culver City, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Pasadena, Burbank and the neighborhoods of West Los Angeles, Westwood, Brentwood, Bel-Air, Pacific Palisades, Palms, Pico-Robertson and Encino. For more information about his services, please visit http://www.twininglaw.com or call (310) 492-5990.

CHRISTOPHER R. TWINING
LAW OFFICES OF CHRISTOPHER R. TWINING
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