Review

class SerializationUtils {
    /**
     * <p>Serializes an <code>Object</code> to the specified stream.</p>
     *
     * <p>The stream will be closed once the object is written.
     * This avoids the need for a finally clause, and maybe also exception
     * handling, in the application code.</p>
     * 
     * <p>The stream passed in is not buffered internally within this method.
     * This is the responsibility of your application if desired.</p>
     *
     * @param obj  the object to serialize to bytes, may be null
     * @param outputStream  the stream to write to, must not be null
     * @throws IllegalArgumentException if <code>outputStream</code> is <code>null</code>
     * @throws SerializationException (runtime) if the serialization fails
     */
    public static void serialize(Serializable obj, OutputStream outputStream) {
        if (outputStream == null) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("The OutputStream must not be null");
        }
        ObjectOutputStream out = null;
        try {
            // stream closed in the finally
            out = new ObjectOutputStream(outputStream);
            out.writeObject(obj);
            
        } catch (IOException ex) {
            throw new SerializationException(ex);
        } finally {
            try {
                if (out != null) {
                    out.close();
                }
            } catch (IOException ex) {
                // ignore close exception
            }
        }
    }

}