It’s no secret that mistakes, misconceptions and unfortunate circumstances occur when people make (or fail to make) arrangements for their estate. However, these errors become amplified when they are made by famous people. As human beings, we are curious by nature and our curiosity often piques when we get a glimpse into the lives of individuals with assets most of us can only dream of and the public battles that may ensue among the deceased’s heirs. Regardless of value and status, there are notable lessons that celebrity deaths have taught us about planning our legacy. Let’s take a look at four celebrities that have passed away, leaving behind lessons we can all learn from.

Recent data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by Today’s Wills and Probate has shown the number of lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) granted annually has tripled between 2010 and 2015.

A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) proposal will result in a sharp rise in probate fees and potentially significant cash flow problems for bereaved families, reports The Telegraph.

The death of David Bowie last month caused a generation to mourn the loss of one of the world's most charismatic musical stars. The man associated with numerous wild and wacky on-stage personas was perhaps one of the last people you would associate with planning for his death and making sure that his financial situation was left in a highly organised manner.

The way in which we ‘consume’ services has changed considerably in the last decade or so. Many retail experts confidently argue that our expectations of service providers are now at an all-time high, with customers demanding access to a wide range of professionally delivered services every time they make a purchase. Does this theory apply to helping bereaved families as well?

The nature of estate and legacy planning is changing in the modern world at a fairly rapid pace. With new technology, changing economic circumstances and a shifting legal landscape, we've noticed that individuals are having to come up with ever more inventive ways of efficiently managing their estate and inheritance.