Plain-English meaning
Living Trust
A trust created during the grantor's lifetime, often to hold and manage property during life and after death.
Why the term matters
Its practical effect depends on the trust terms and whether assets are actually transferred or designated to the trust.
Do not confuse it with
A living trust is not the same as a living will, which addresses health-care instructions.
Where you may see it
The term may appear in a signed will or trust, a court petition or order, a deed, an account or policy form, a fiduciary report, or correspondence from a tax or benefit agency. Read the defined-terms section and the complete sentence before deciding what role or action it describes.
Records that give the term context
- the complete trust, amendments, schedules, and certifications
- deeds, assignments, account titles, and beneficiary confirmations showing funding
What to verify
- Which assets are legally connected to the trust?
- What event activates a successor trustee's authority?
Example without case advice
If a notice uses “living trust,” first identify the person or property the word refers to, the document supplying the definition, and the deadline or decision attached to it. The same word can carry a different procedural effect in a trust, probate file, tax form, or account contract.
Sources to verify
Use the controlling court, agency, statute, provider record, or governing document before relying on a general explanation.