In this episode of Law and Pop Culture, Christine Matus and Kristine Carranceja-Gurski examine the cautionary estate story of late pop star Aaron Carter and what happens when fame and early success collide with a lack of planning. The conversation explores Aaron Carter’s rise to stardom at a young age, the financial troubles that followed, and the legal reality he left behind after passing away in November 2022 at age 34 — including dying without a valid will. Christine and Kristine break dow...
In this episode of Law and Pop Culture, Christine and Kristine dive into the headline-making lawsuit involving Michael Crichton’s estate and HBO’s new series The Pit. After spotting major similarities between the show and Crichton’s iconic medical drama ER, his widow claims the studio violated a special “Frozen Rights” clause Crichton put in place to protect his work—even after his death. Christine breaks down what that clause means, why the judge is allowing the case to move forward, and how...
In this episode, we turn our attention to the humble and profound final wishes of Pope Francis. The late pontiff’s will, recently made public, reveals a strikingly simple request: to be buried in an unadorned grave beneath St. Mary Major Basilica, with only his papal name—Franciscus—etched in Latin. Unlike many of his predecessors, Pope Francis chose not to be buried in St. Peter’s Basilica, reflecting a life and legacy rooted in humility. Christine Matus and Kristine Carranceja-Gurski discus...
In Part 2 of our deep dive into the Gene Hackman estate planning story, Christine Matus and Kristine Carranceja-Gurski return to discuss new developments that have emerged over the past month—and the critical legal lessons they reveal. This episode explores the real-life consequences of unclear wills, DIY estate planning, and the importance of precise legal language. Christine and Kristine break down how a poorly worded will led to years of litigation, why even slight deviations in phrasing c...
In this episode of Law & Pop Culture, attorneys Christine Matus and Kristine Carranceja-Gurski unpack the estate planning issues that arose after actress Anne Heche’s unexpected death. With no will in place, her estate became the center of a legal battle between her son and former partner, raising important questions about guardianship, probate, and family dynamics. Christine and Kristine explore how a lack of planning can complicate even a modest estate and share insights on how others c...
In this episode of Law & Pop Culture, hosts Christine Matus and Kristine Carranceja-Gurski reflect on the heartbreaking and unexpected death of legendary actor Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and one of their dogs at their Santa Fe home. While the cause remains unknown at the time of recording, the hosts discuss the possible implications of simultaneous deaths — not just emotionally, but legally. As estate planning attorneys, Christine and Kristine explore how tragic real-life event...
In this episode, Christine Matus and Kristine Carranceja-Gurski are joined by the firm's senior Real Estate Attorney, Brayndi Grassi, to dive into the fascinating intersection of estate planning, real estate, and art law, focusing on graffiti and artists' rights. They discuss two abandoned properties in Los Angeles that have become covered in graffiti and explore the legal implications of property owners removing street art. The conversation revisits the landmark 5Pointz case in New York, whe...
In this episode, Christine Matus and Kristine Carranceja-Gurski break down the high-stakes estate planning moves behind media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s multi-billion-dollar trust. As the legendary tycoon steps back, what happens next for his vast media empire? We explore how strategic estate planning can shape the future of family businesses, avoid power struggles, and protect legacies—whether you’re a billionaire or not. Tune in for legal insights, pop culture intrigue, and estate plannin...
In this episode, Christine and Kristine are joined by our Real Estate attorney Brayndi Grassi who has a background in Music Law, and lead paralegal Jo-Ellen Wlazlowski who is a hip-hop and true crime aficionado in addition to her legal knowledge. The conversation delves into P. Diddy's branding tactics, his tumultuous legal history, and how royalties and asset management play out in high-profile cases. They even touch on the estate planning implications for music royalties and in...
In this episode, we are revisiting the topic discussed in our 36th episode: Matthew Perry's estate plan. Christine and Kristine discuss the updates that have come up with his case after his sudden passing and the benefits of setting up a Trust instead of just having a Last Will & Testament. It is clear that Perry had expert guidance and he is one of the celebrities who gets a 10/10 on our Estate Planning scale: he had a Trust in place. Listen to the full episode to learn more about the ta...
In this gripping episode of Law & Pop Culture, Christine and Kristine take a deep dive into the notorious Menendez brothers case, exploring the estate planning implications and legal complexities behind the crime. The 1989 murders of entertainment executive Jose Menendez and his wife Kitty shocked the nation, but the estate planning issues that surfaced in the aftermath raised questions about family dynamics, inheritance laws, and criminal liability in estate cases. We examine how the Men...
In this episode of Law & Pop Culture, Christine and Kristine delve into the intricate and dramatic saga of Aretha Franklin’s estate. Five years after the Queen of Soul’s passing, the battle over her estimated $18 million estate nears resolution. The episode explores the complexities and legal challenges posed by the discovery of two wills: a handwritten 2014 document found under a couch cushion and a more formal 2010 version We'll discuss how the 2014 will, authenticated by a Michigan ju...
In this episode of Law & Pop Culture, we go back to a topic we've already discussed but this time with the latest updates. In January 2024 a new lawsuit was filed by L. Londell McMillan and Charles Spicer, managers of Prince Legacy LLC, the holding company that oversees half of Prince's estate. This lawsuit alleges that four of Prince's family members attempted to remove the company from his Estate, let's remember the battle for his estate began back in 2016 when he passed without a will,...
Welcome to Law & Pop Culture, a podcast in which we talk about the trials and tribulations of celebrity Estate Planning. In this compelling episode, attorneys Kristine Carranceja-Gurski and Christine Matus delve into the crucial importance of keeping estate plans up to date. Focused on the untimely passing of basketball legend Kobe Bryant, the episode uncovers the challenges faced by his wife, Vanessa Bryant, due to the absence of provisions for their youngest daughter in his estate plan....
Welcome to another episode of Law & Pop Culture, this time we are discussing the details of Matthew Perry's estate plan after his unexpected death in October 2023. Luckily it is clear that he had expert guidance and he is one of the celebrities who gets a 10/10 on our Estate Planning scale: he had a Trust in place. Listen to the full episode to learn more about the takeaways you can apply to your own Estate Plan. Thanks for listening, to learn more about The Matus Law Group head to ...
On this Law & Pop Culture episode, we are revisiting the first episode of the podcast in which we talked about Britney Spears' Conservatorship (or Guardianship as it is known in NJ) and the legal battle she undertook to revoke it. This time around we get a fresh new perspective on how she ended up under this Conservatorship thanks to her Memoir: The Woman in Me. Christine and Kristine discuss the legal loopholes that this legal tool has and how it is possible for people who don't need thi...
In the final episode of our Jane Austen special, we are discussing the 2020 Emma starring Anna Taylor-Joy, later we talk about Real Estate mogul Leona Helmsley. What do these two women have in common? Bequests on Wills. Bequests are petitions made in these estate planning documents that condition how the assets are to be distributed, in Helmsley's case the bequest involved no other than her Maltese dog! Leaving her $12M and causing a big conflict in court. Thanks for listening, to learn...
On our second episode, we are back with the Jane Austen theme where we talk about another one of her classics: Persuasion. This time the movie came out in 2022 starring Dakota Johnson as the protagonist Anne, and Cosmo Jarvis as her love interest Captain Wentworth. The movie talks about what can happen when one does not correctly handle their inheritance, which fortunately is something that can be addressed nowadays with proper Estate Planning. Unfortunately, this was not the case with our re...
Welcome to the 4th season of Law & Pop Culture! This season we are dedicating the first 4 episodes to one of the greats of literature: Jane Austen. In this episode, we will discuss the book-turned movie called Sense and Sensibility starring Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, and romcom heartthrob Hugh Grant. Besides being a love story it also discusses the complications that come when you have several potential heirs but fail to plan accordingly. This is why later in the epi...
In the final episode of season 3, we are going back to talking about Succession Planning and how the ultra-rich do it, and of course, the drama that can come from having all that money. We discuss the first episode of the 2017 tv show TRUST, which details the unraveling of the Getty Family and that famous kidnapping. Later in the episode, we continue with the Getty's story except that for this we compared the show to the real-life events that inspired Trust. Thanks for listening, ...