Sunset Probate Documents: Every County, Every State, Ready in Minutes
Sunset now generates probate documents for all 50 states and 3,000+ counties in minutes. Guided, simple, and free for families.
One of the biggest obstacles families face when settling an estate isn't finding the accounts — it's getting the legal authority to close them. That means probate documents: letters of administration, letters testamentary, or small estate affidavits, depending on the state, the county, and the size of the estate. Getting these right is critical, and getting them wrong means delays, rejections, and often unnecessary legal fees.
Today, we're launching a probate document tool that takes care of this entirely within Sunset.
TurboTax, but for Probate
The probate process is complicated and fact-dependent. Every state has different rules. Every county has different forms. The requirements change based on the size of the estate, whether there's a will, and who the heirs are. For many families, this process is more manageable than they think — but figuring out where to start and which forms to use is where most people get stuck.
Sunset's probate tool works the way TurboTax works for taxes: it guides you through a series of questions, determines exactly what documents you need based on your specific state and county requirements, and generates them for you — ready to file. What used to take weeks of research and potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars in legal fees now takes minutes.
Only Possible Because of Sunset's Financial Search
Here's what makes this different from any other document preparation tool: the probate process requires a complete picture of the estate — every asset, every debt, every balance. Without that information, you can't determine which probate path applies, whether the estate qualifies as a small estate, or what values to report on the forms. Most families spend weeks or months trying to piece that picture together manually.
Sunset already has it. Because our platform searches across 600+ financial institutions to identify bank accounts, retirement funds, insurance policies, debts, and more — complete with account numbers and current balances — we can feed that information directly into the probate workflow. The financial search and the legal documents work together as a single process. That's something no other tool can do, because no other tool has the data.
What We Generate
Depending on your situation, Sunset will prepare the right document for your case: letters testamentary if there's a will and you've been named executor, letters of administration if there's no will or no named executor, or a small estate affidavit if the estate qualifies under your state's threshold. Each document is tailored to the specific requirements of your county — across all 50 states and all 3,000+ counties in the United States.
Every document comes with clear, step-by-step instructions for what to do next, so you're never left wondering where to file or what comes after.
Online Notarization in Under 5 Minutes
Many probate documents require notarization. Sunset includes access to online notarization so you can get documents notarized from home in less than five minutes — no need to find a notary, schedule an appointment, or drive across town.
The Full Estate Settlement Workflow
This launch brings everything full circle. Sunset finds the accounts, gives you the complete financial picture, generates the legal documents you need based on that picture, helps you close and transfer the accounts, and provides an FDIC-insured estate bank account to receive the funds. Every step feeds into the next. That's the whole point — one platform, one process, from start to finish.
Free for Families
Like everything on Sunset, our probate document tool is completely free. No document preparation charges, no hidden costs.
For more complex or contested estates, we always recommend consulting with a probate attorney. But for the many families who just need the right documents prepared correctly, Sunset can help you get there faster.
Get Started
If you're managing the estate of a loved one and need probate documents, visit hellosunset.com to get started. It takes just a few minutes.
Questions? Reach us at [email protected].
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 bank partnership. 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 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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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 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.
Will the 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.
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.
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.
