Is probate a factor when a living trust is being administered?
No, the distributions to the beneficiaries would not be subject to the probate process. On the other hand, if you use a will as an asset transfer vehicle, it would be admitted to probate.
This process will typically take eight or nine months at minimum, and no inheritances are distributed while the estate is being probated. It is a public proceeding, so there is a loss of privacy, and probate expenses reduce the value of the estate.