A revocable trust, if funded properly prior to death, allows families to avoid the probate process entirely. The probate process, at least in Florida, can be a tedious and lengthy undertaking. It generally takes a month or two to open a formal probate administration and obtain the Letters of Administration appointing a personal representative. Once the estate is open, the 90-day creditor period is initiated in which potential creditors can file claims. Assets of the estate should not be distributed, and the estate cannot be finalized until the creditor period has expired. Due to these procedural requirements, most formal probate administrations last at least 5-6 months and often extend up to 1 year. By utilizing a revocable trust, the probate process can be bypassed. The successor Trustees named in the trust document should have immediate access to the trust assets and can proceed with administering the trust according the trust provisions. The Trustees also don’t have to wait for the creditor period to expire prior to making distributions to the beneficiaries. So, while a trust can expedite the administration process, the type of assets involved, and the exact provisions of the trust will determine how long it takes to finalize the process.