jQuery plugin to handle fading out and removing and element from the DOM

jquery.fadeoutandremove.js

/*!
 * Fade Out element and remove from DOM
 */
  (function($)
  {
    $.fn.fadeOutAndRemove = function(duration)
    {
      duration = (duration === undefined) ? 250 : duration;
      
      return this.fadeOut(duration, function()
      {
        $(this).remove();
      });
    };
  })(jQuery);