
Episode #58
Episode 58 | The Simpsons Royalties: Jennifer Tilly's Estate Planning Lesson
Jennifer Tilly may be best known for her award-nominated acting career, memorable film roles, and appearances on reality TV, but one of her smartest financial decisions happened long before the cameras stopped rolling. In this episode of Law & Pop Culture, Christine Matus and Kristine Carranceja-Gurski explore how Tilly's divorce settlement with television producer Sam Simon was structured to provide ongoing income through royalties from The Simpsons instead of a one-time payout. Decades later, that decision continues to generate substantial annual income, demonstrating the long-term value of planning for the future. The conversation goes beyond celebrity headlines to examine why intellectual property, royalties, residuals, and other intangible assets are often overlooked during estate planning. Christine and Kristine explain why these assets deserve the same attention as real estate or investment accounts, and why it's essential to make your attorney aware of them when creating an estate plan. The hosts also discuss the benefits of planning while family relationships are stable, the importance of building contingency plans by appointing backup decision-makers, and how thoughtful legal planning can protect valuable assets for years to come. Whether you own creative work, receive royalties, have business interests, or simply want to make sure every asset is accounted for, this episode highlights why the right estate plan looks beyond what's in the bank. Thanks for listening, to learn more about The Matus Law Group head to our website www.matuslaw.com Follow us on social media https://www.facebook.com/matuslawgroup https://www.instagram.com/matuslaw/ https://twitter.com/MatusLawGroup






