When writing fiction, what can you safely do, under the law, in the matter of including the names of real people in your work? I see it done, even making noted people a part of the story being told. Are there guidelines for this, or must you obtain written permission from the individual you want to include?

Can anyone help? Thanks . . .

This site can give you the guidelines on what you can and cannot include in your fictional work.

Of course you can always preface your work with a standard disclaimer "(name of book) is in its entirety and down to its last word a work of fiction. There is no veracity to any aspect of it; any appearance of veracity is an illusion. All names, characters, books, places, and incidents are either the product of the authors' imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events (past, present, or future) or persons (dead, living, or not yet born) is entirely coincidental."