Following the tragic death of actor Matthew Perry at the age of 54 on October 28, it has been revealed that he leaves behind a significant estate. Perry's estate encompasses all of his possessions, including real estate, property, and any residuals he was entitled to from his work on Friends. Additionally, his copyrights, trademarks, name and likeness, and royalties from his memoir are included, as well as his investments, cash, and securities.

Estate lawyers David Esquibias, Laura Zwicker, and Jonathan Forster have explained the possible options for handling Perry's estate. One option is to designate beneficiaries for Perry's residuals.

According to Forster, it is possible to list specific beneficiaries for residuals with the relevant unions and guilds.

Esquibias adds that beneficiaries can also be designated for other assets such as real estate, stock accounts, and life insurance. If Perry did not list specific beneficiaries for his residuals, it is likely that he indicated elsewhere where his residual earnings would go. Another possibility is that Perry had a trust. Forster explains that a trust is not public record and would specify who is entitled to Perry's assets, including his residuals. The trust could either designate specific individuals to receive the residuals or allocate shares of his assets to different people.

Trusts offer the benefit of privacy, as the details of the transactions are not available to the public like they would be in probate court. The experts also discuss the option of a will. While wills provide direction on asset distribution, they involve court involvement and become a matter of public record.

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