A funeral fit for a king
Michael Jackson was laid to rest in Glendale last week, and after much controversy surrounding the costs of the funeral – initially, the City was going to foot the bill, to the dismay of the taxpayers – it was finally decided that the estate would pick up the tab.
And apparently, it was a big tab.
The Los Angeles Times wrote that attorney Jeryll S. Cohen urged Probate Judge Mitchell Beckloff to approve the expenses for interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park amongst lavish decorations saying the costs “may not be appropriate for an ordinary person, but Michael Jackson was not ordinary.”
Under probate law, all the debts of an estate must be paid before beneficiaries get their share. And, in California, there is a general rule as to how much of an estate will go toward the funeral expenses.
The law specifically states that appropriate funeral costs include the reasonable cost of interment, family plot, and endowment care. Those costs though, are to be calculated “proportionate to the value of the estate and in keeping with the standard of living adopted by the decedent.” Any outrageous bills may require additional justification and judicial approval.
Judge Beckloff OK’ed the payments.
Jackson lived enormously, and he will rest in peace as such surrounded by statues and stained glass windows.
An attorney representing Jackson’s children did not appear concerned that the funeral costs would overburden the estate to the detriment of her clients.
James D. Perry
Tags: Probate
