Roseville, CA estate planning & probate attorney Kristin M. Kaminski explains how a living trust works. She points out that a living trust, also referred to as a revocable living trust, serves as a container for holding a significant portion of an individual’s assets. Assets are titled in the name of the trust, which functions as a living instrument and remains effective throughout the individual’s lifetime. Unlike a will, which becomes operative only after death, a living trust actively manages assets while the individual is alive. In the event of incapacity, a chosen successor trustee—someone trusted to handle financial matters—oversees the assets. After the individual’s passing, the successor trustee administers the trust by distributing the assets to the designated beneficiaries according to the terms of the trust.