When the grantor or creator of a trust passes away, the trust does not simply vanish; instead, it triggers a structured legal and administrative process governed by the instructions written into the trust document. If the trust was revocable during the grantor's lifetime, it instantly becomes irrevocable upon their death. The successor trustee named in the legal agreement steps in to take over management of the trust assets, bypassing the lengthy and public probate court process. The trustee is legally obligated to inventory the assets, notify all qualified beneficiaries, pay any outstanding debts, file final tax returns, and ultimately distribute the remaining property and funds to the designated beneficiaries in strict accordance with the rules established by the deceased.