Accouncement
Sunset now moves a deceased person's bank balance into the estate account in a few business days, with no branch visit and no paperwork.
September 1, 2026
A bank will open a new account for you in minutes. Tell that same bank one of its customers has died, and it sends you to a branch. So you take a morning off work, drive over, and wait for the one employee with an office. You slide the death certificate across the desk. And the branch manager tells you that estates are handled by a different department. Which department, they can't say. What it will need, they don't know. How long it takes, they won't guess. Nobody at that desk has done this more than a handful of times, and it shows.
Meanwhile the account is frozen, and the family, who has already buried someone and already proven in court that the money belongs to the estate, gets told to wait.
Sunset has now helped more than 15,000 families after a death, so we have watched this same morning play out over and over. Our 2025 Estate Settlement Report Card graded 100 of America's largest financial institutions on how they treat bereaved families. The industry averaged a C. More than half still make a grieving family walk into a branch or mail paper just to report a death, which is how most of these mornings start. The average family burns more than 500 hours settling an estate, and a great deal of that is not work. It is waiting on a bank.
Today we're announcing Instant Inheritance. When Sunset has independently confirmed a deceased person's bank account and the requester's authority over the estate, we move the balance into the estate's FDIC-insured Sunset account. No username. No password. No branch visit, no forms across a desk, and no manager sending you off to a department they can't name. What used to take weeks or months settles in a few business days.
We've been running it quietly since June. Two dozen families in a private beta have moved a loved one's money through Instant Inheritance, and not one of them set foot in a branch to do it.
Banks built this wait
None of this is a technical problem. The balance is sitting in an account a bank can read in one second. The person asking for it holds a court document saying the money belongs to the estate. Everything required to release it exists on day one.
What's missing is any reason to hurry. The institution holds the money, writes its own requirements, and answers to no deadline. And the balance is not idle while you wait. It sits on the bank's books, earning for the bank, right up until the day it leaves. The person sitting across the desk from you has no authority to release a dollar of it and no real training in how estates work, so they hand you onward and the file joins a queue nobody will discuss. Nobody inside the bank has a bad quarter because a widow spent three months chasing a check. The entire cost lands on the family, in hours, in mileage, and in grief they're carrying anyway. Instant Inheritance takes the bank's timeline out of the process.
What changes
The old way
Take a morning off and drive to the branch. Wait for whoever handles this, and watch them look it up. Get told the estates department owns it, and no, there's no direct number. Order more certified death certificates. Get forms notarized. Mail everything into a review you can't see. Go back to the branch when nothing happens, and get a different answer from a different employee. Eventually a paper check gets cut and mailed to an estate that has nowhere to deposit it.
With Instant Inheritance
You request the transfer. The balance moves into the estate account, usually within a few business days, and Sunset re-confirms the balance and the account's status one last time before the money moves.
How it works
- Sunset confirms the account. Our search finds the account and verifies its details and balance directly, and we confirm your legal authority over the estate from the probate documents we built with you. Eligible accounts get marked in Sunset. You do nothing at this stage.
- You request the transfer. Pick the account, confirm the amount, up to the balance we've verified. This step is always yours. Sunset never moves money on its own.
- The funds land in the estate account. Proceeds settle into the user-owned, Sunset-managed estate bank account, ready to pay the estate's bills and go out to heirs and beneficiaries.
Bank accounts first
Instant Inheritance covers bank accounts held by the deceased: checking, savings, and money market. Retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, and life insurance proceeds still move through Automated Closure, where Sunset notifies the institution, works the paperwork, and rides the closure to completion for you.
The bar is high on purpose
Sunset approves an account only after confirming both the account itself and the requester's authority to act for the estate. Most accounts will not qualify on day one, and that is deliberate. Moving a dead person's money is the most consequential thing our software does. We would rather a family wait a little than get this wrong once.
An account that doesn't qualify isn't stuck. It goes down the Automated Closure path and we close it for you, which still beats doing it yourself by months. Eligibility gets re-checked as searches finish and documents are accepted, so an account that misses today often clears later without the family lifting a finger.
"After helping more than 15,000 families through a death, what I can't get past is how little anyone at a bank wants to do. They won't lift a finger to protect the account of a customer they know has died, much less process the inheritance. Somebody in this process has to be on the family's side, and it was never going to be the bank," said Stephen Walter, an attorney and the CEO and cofounder of Sunset.
Your money, protected
A transfer can only go one place: the estate's own account, owned by the estate and managed by Sunset. Funds can never be routed to a personal account, and distribution to heirs happens later as its own reviewed step. Every Sunset estate account is FDIC-insured through our banking partner, with stacked coverage protecting up to $3 million in deposits.
Free for families
Like everything on Sunset, Instant Inheritance is completely free. No fees, and no percentage taken from what a family recovers. Sunset is paid by its bank partners while estate funds sit in the FDIC-insured estate account, so families never pay a dime.
Get started
If you're already using Sunset, there's nothing to turn on. Open your estate and look for accounts marked eligible for an instant transfer. If you're just getting started, visit hellosunset.com to begin your free search. Questions? Reach us at [email protected].
Finding what a loved one left behind was the first thing Sunset ever did. Closing the accounts came next. Getting the money to the people it belongs to, without a bank deciding when, is the whole point.
About Sunset
Sunset is the automated estate-settlement platform helping families and professionals manage what comes after a loved one's death. Built by attorneys and engineers, Sunset combines authoritative data integrations, document automation, and FDIC-insured estate banking into a single workflow that operates across all 50 states and every U.S. county. The company is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and backed by Y Combinator.
Sunset is free for consumers. Families never pay a fee or give up a share of what they recover, because Sunset is paid by its bank partners. For attorneys and professional fiduciaries, Sunset offers Sunset Pro, a professional tier that lets them run Sunset's automated search and closure across every estate they administer. Learn more at hellosunset.com.
HOW WE MAKE MONEY
We’re paid by banks, not families
Just like any bank, we make money from interest yielded while money sits in the estate bank account.
No out-of-pocket costs or fees
You never pay for anything out of pocket. Ever.
We make money on interest
No hidden costs. No surprise fees. No fine print.
You keep all your money
We never take a cut of your inheritance.
Frequently asked questions
What is Sunset?
Sunset is an estate settlement platform that helps families handle everything financial that needs to happen after someone dies.
Sunset finds financial accounts, assets, and debts in the deceased person’s name, prepares the probate paperwork required in your state and county, opens an FDIC-insured estate bank account, and helps close, transfer, and consolidate the estate’s accounts.
Sunset is free for families. We’re paid by the financial institutions that receive transferred assets, so there’s no fee, subscription, or percentage taken from the estate.
What does it mean to settle an estate?
Settling an estate means closing out someone’s financial life after they die.
It involves identifying what they owned and owed, obtaining the legal authority to act on their behalf, paying valid debts and final taxes, and transferring what remains to the people who inherit it.
Depending on the state and the size of the estate, it can be complicated or simple, either way Sunset can help.
How does Sunset help settle an estate?
Sunset handles the most time-consuming parts of estate settlement.
We search 2,500+ financial institutions like banks and retirement funds, the credit bureaus, and state unclaimed-property databases to find accounts and assets the family may not know about. We prepare probate documents specific to your county in all 50 states and help establish an estate bank account where recovered funds can be deposited.
Then Sunset helps close the deceased person’s accounts and move the funds into the estate account, ready for distribution to the heirs.
With Sunset, about 90% of account closures can be completed without you having to call or visit a branch.
How much does it usually cost to settle an estate?
The cost of settling an estate varies widely depending on its size, complexity, and where you live.
Hiring a probate attorney commonly costs $2,500 to $10,000, with more complex estates costing considerably more. In states with statutory probate fees, attorney fees may instead be calculated as a percentage of the estate. For example, a 3% to 7% fee on a $500,000 estate would be $15,000 to $35,000.
Sunset is free for families. There’s no fee, subscription, or percentage taken from the inheritance.
What is required to settle an estate?
Most estates require a core set of documents and accounts, including a certified death certificate, legal authority to act for the estate, a federal EIN, an estate bank account, and an inventory of the estate’s assets and debts.
Sunset can help with all of these except the death certificate!
Depending on the circumstances, legal authority may come in the form of letters testamentary, letters of administration, or a small-estate affidavit.
Once that authority is established, the estate can begin notifying financial institutions, paying valid debts and final taxes, and distributing the remaining assets to the heirs or beneficiaries.
Sunset prepares the paperwork required for these steps and submits what we can on your behalf.
Can Sunset help me settle an estate in my county or state?
Yes. Sunset works in all 50 states and all 3,000+ U.S. counties.
Sunset generates probate documents specific to the county where the estate is being settled and helps you complete the required steps. When notarization is required, online notarization is available where permitted.
What is Sunset?
Sunset is an estate settlement platform that helps families discover and close the financial accounts, assets, and debts of a deceased loved one.
Sunset Free is designed for family members, executors, and personal representatives who are settling an estate themselves. It includes the full Sunset closure suite: financial account discovery, bank notifications, assisted phone calls and emails, estate bank account setup, probate document generation, and asset transfers all at no cost.
Sunset Pro is designed for probate attorneys, licensed fiduciaries, trustees, and aftercare specialists who settle estates on behalf of their clients. Sunset Pro starts at $500 per asset search, with monthly subscription plans available for solo practitioners, small firms, and large firms.
Both Sunset Free and Sunset Pro are available in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
How much does Sunset cost?
Sunset Free is completely free for families settling an estate. There are no upfront fees, subscriptions, or deductions from the inheritance. Families get access to asset discovery, probate document generation, account closure, asset transfers, and estate bank account setup at no cost.
Sunset Pro is our paid product for probate attorneys, licensed fiduciaries, trustees, and aftercare specialists. It starts at $500 per asset search, with subscription plans available for solo practitioners, small firms, and large firms.
Sunset's family product is funded through our relationships with financial institutions. When an estate's assets are transferred to a receiving institution, that institution may pay Sunset a referral fee, and Sunset may also earn revenue from funds held in the estate bank account. The estate does not pay Sunset, and all assets ultimately go to the estate's beneficiaries and heirs.
How much does it usually cost to settle an estate?
The cost of settling an estate varies depending on its size, complexity, location, and whether professional help is required. Unlike software that simply gives you a checklist, Sunset actually helps carry out the work, from finding assets and generating probate documents to closing accounts and moving money into the estate account.
Can you settle an estate without a lawyer?
Yes. In many cases, you can settle an estate without hiring a lawyer. Sunset helps families handle the process themselves by finding assets, preparing probate documents, closing financial accounts, establishing an estate bank account, and collecting the estate's assets.
How can I pay estate expenses?
Once you have an estate bank account, you can use it to pay legitimate expenses related to settling your loved one's estate.
If you paid estate expenses out of your own pocket before the estate account was established, you may also be able to reimburse yourself from the estate, provided the expenses are legitimate and properly documented.
Who can use Sunset?
Sunset can be used by family members, executors, administrators, and personal representatives responsible for settling a deceased person's estate.
Sunset supports asset discovery and probate across all 50 states and every U.S. county, helping you manage the estate regardless of where your loved one lived or where the estate is being settled.
What security measures does Sunset have?
Sunset is SOC 2 Type II certified and built with security and privacy at the center of how we handle sensitive estate information.
We use robust identity and fraud-prevention measures to verify deceased individuals and beneficiaries, and we conduct background checks on our employees. We continuously monitor and improve our security practices to protect the financial information, documents, and personal data entrusted to us.
How quickly will I see results?
5 to 14 days.
We'll email you as soon as your requested searches are complete, and you can log in to review and close any discovered accounts when you're ready.
Who can use Sunset?
Any family member, executor, administrator or personal representative responsible for managing a deceased person’s assets can use our software tool. We support asset search and probate in all 50 states and every county in the U.S.
Am I responsible for their debts?
No, the deceased was solely responsible for their debts. If a loan was backed by a physical asset, such as a home or vehicle, you have options to transfer or payoff from estate proceeds.
For a loan that was jointly held, the responsibility remains with the other person on the account, often a spouse. Sunset automatically identifies if a debt has a living responsible party, and clearly flags it.
What is an estate bank account? Who controls it?
An estate bank account is a standard bank account in the estate’s name where all funds are consolidated. You can use it to pay expenses, view a full transaction history, and eventually distribute inheritance to beneficiaries.
With one click Sunset can set up an estate bank account.
You control the estate bank account. You can pay bills, taxes, and distribute the funds to heirs.
All estate bank accounts set up by Sunset are FDIC insured and protected from fraud and identity theft.
How can I pay estate expenses?
With your estate bank account you can use to pay expenses to settle your loved ones affairs. You can also reimburse yourself for expenses you may have paid out of pocket before the bank account was set up.
This includes paying for funeral expenses, accountants and attorneys if needed (most families do not need these services when working with us), realtor fees when selling property, money going towards settling debts, money spent fixing up a property before selling it, etc.
What security measures does Sunset have?
Sunset is SOC 2 Type II certified, and we hold ourselves to the highest standards in how we build our software and store data so that you’re always protected. We have in-depth fraud and identity verification measures on the deceased and the beneficiaries, and we run background checks on all employees.
What about probate documents?
You can use our software to generate and sometimes file probate documents in every county nationwide.
Online notarization is also available through Sunset.
If your case is unusually complex, or disputed, we recommend hiring experienced probate counsel.
Can Sunset help my probate attorney?
Yes. Attorneys regularly recommend Sunset to their clients. Before your attorney can guide you on the right probate path, they need a complete picture of the estate's assets and debts. Sunset generates a comprehensive Estate Asset Inventory with account numbers, balances, and more, giving your attorney exactly what they need to move forward quickly.
Will financial institution be notified of a Sunset search?
No, we do not notify any financial institutions of the death when performing our searches, except for in the case of life insurance.
Our process combines document review, data integrations, and indirect verification with financial institutions. Families usually discover most accounts within 1 day, although some bank account confirmations take up to two weeks.
Financial institutions are only notified after a request for closure and transfer has been made by you.
How much does Sunset cost?
Sunset Free is free for families settling an estate. Sunset Pro, our paid product for probate attorneys, licensed fiduciaries, trustees, and aftercare specialists, starts at $500 per asset search, with monthly subscription plans available for Solo Practitioners, Small Firms, and Large Firms.
For families, Sunset never charges a fee or takes a percentage of the estate. All family-facing tools are free, including search and discovery, probate document generation, account closure, asset transfer, and estate bank account setup. No upfront fees. No subscriptions. No deductions from the inheritance.
Our revenue from the family side comes from bank partners. They pay us a referral fee when assets transfer to receiving institutions, and we share in the interest while funds sit in the estate bank account. Sunset Pro subscriptions from professionals are how we sustain the rest of the product. All of the deceased's assets go to the beneficiaries and heirs.
