Estate planning lessons from the $600M fight over Michael Jackson’s music catalog

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Reid Kress Weisbord, Rutgers University - Newark and Naomi Cahn, University of Virginia

(THE CONVERSATION) When Michael Jackson died in 2009, he left a complicated legacy. But one thing remains true: The King of Pop’s music still generates millions of dollars every year. A Jackson biopic is expected in 2025, and “MJ,” his Broadway show, has brought his music to theaters worldwide.

But despite the ongoing success of Jackson’s music, his estate has stalled in limbo for more than a decade. That’s because of a long-running taxdisputeconcerning more than US$700 million alleged to be due to the IRS and other legal challenges.

The...