Is an inter vivos trust the same thing as a revocable trust?

No, an inter vivos trust does not have to be revocable, although it can be.

An inter vivos trust is a trust that is created by someone who is alive. If you went to a lawyer tomorrow and had a trust created, that trust would be an inter vivos trust because you would still be alive when you created the trust. The opposite of an inter vivos trust is a testamentary trust. A testamentary trust is a trust created by your will after you die. Simply put, if you make a trust while you are still alive, that trust is an inter vivos trust.

A trust is revocable if it can be taken back. If you cannot take the trust back, then the trust is irrevocable. Thus, if you create a trust while still alive and you retain the ability to undo the trust, then you have created an inter vivos, revocable trust. But it is also possible to create an inter vivos, irrevocable trust. It all depends on the language used in your declaration of trust.

If you think you might need a trust, contact a trust attorney for a free consultation.