It is the person or entity responsible for performing the instructions in a Trust. Some points to consider Most of a person's property is considered for federal estate tax purposes and for state death tax purposes regardless of whether it is held in a Living Trust or passes by Will. However, it is considered for federal estate tax purposes. Having a Trust, per se, does not save on federal estate taxes nor on state death taxes. Both Wills and Trusts can include provisions for tax savings strategies.
Probate is public information.
Persons can go to the courthouse and see how a probate estate was distributed and to whom. This only applies to that portion of the estate that goes through probate. Probate costs apply to that portion of the estate that goes through probate. Probate costs vary widely among states. Trusts can be private thereby shielding from prying eyes the details of the distribution of an estate.