Sunset Now Handles Trust Administration
Sunset finds the deceased's accounts, in the trust or not, and closes and transfers them.
A revocable living trust is often sold as the way to avoid probate. For the assets actually inside the trust, it does that. It does nothing to tell the successor trustee where those assets are. When the person who created the trust dies, the trustee faces the same problem every executor does: nobody left a list. The schedule of assets attached to the trust, if there is one, was usually typed up the year the trust was signed. Accounts opened since then aren't on it. Neither are the ones that were supposed to be retitled and never were. Most trustees learn about the deceased's accounts one statement at a time, from whatever shows up in the mail. And once an account is found, each bank, brokerage, and insurer wants its own proof of authority and moves at its own pace.
A trust also almost never settles alone. Nearly every trust administration runs alongside an estate. Any account with no named beneficiary and no transfer-on-death designation belongs to the estate, and so does anything the deceased never retitled into the trust during life. That might be a checking account opened after the trust was signed, a car, or a final paycheck. The trustee is usually the executor too, and the two jobs share a death certificate and, most of the time, the same beneficiaries.
So trust settlement is estate settlement, and the other way around. The trustee and the executor start from the same blank page, and the work after that is the same: find every account, prove authority, close it, and get the money to the people it belongs to. Only the paperwork that proves authority changes.
Today Sunset is adding trust administration to the platform. Sunset finds the deceased person's assets, titled to the trust or not, and then closes and transfers them for the trustee. These are the same search, closure, banking, and transfer tools that more than 15,000 families have used for estate settlement, and the trust and the estate run together in one place.
Find what's already in the trust
While the creator of a revocable trust is alive, the trust's accounts are usually reported under that person's own Social Security number. Sunset's search already runs on the deceased person's identity across more than 2,300 financial institutions, so accounts titled to the trust appear in the same search as everything else. Sunset also reviews the deceased person's IRS wage and income records and bank account records, where a trust account opened under that Social Security number still shows up with the trust's name on it. Each result shows how the account was titled: to the trust, to the deceased person individually, or payable to a named beneficiary.
That label decides where each account goes. A trust controls only the assets moved into it. An account left in the deceased person's own name, with no beneficiary or transfer-on-death designation, goes through the estate whatever the trust document says. Sunset shows the trustee what belongs where at the start, before the first call to an institution.
If the trust had its own tax ID while the deceased was alive, Sunset searches that number too.
The trustee's paperwork, prepared
Sunset reviews the trust documents and prepares a certification of trust, the short form most institutions accept in place of the full trust instrument. The trustee reviews it and signs in front of an online notary in a few minutes, from home.
When the person who created a revocable trust dies, the trust becomes irrevocable and needs its own tax ID. Sunset obtains the trust's EIN from the IRS, so the trust's accounts are set up under the right number from the start.
Close, transfer, and consolidate
Automated Closure works on trust accounts the same way it works on estate accounts. Sunset notifies the institution, handles its paperwork, closes the account, and directs the proceeds into an FDIC-insured Sunset account in the trust's name. Trust assets spread across a dozen institutions end up consolidated in one place, ready for the trustee to pay expenses and distribute. The trustee does not need to carry a copy of the trust into a branch or spend an afternoon on hold with a custodian.
- Sunset finds the accounts. Trust, estate, and beneficiary assets come back in one search, each labeled by how it was titled.
- Sunset prepares the paperwork. A certification of trust drawn from the trust documents and notarized online, plus the trust's new EIN.
- Accounts close and the money moves. Trust assets consolidate in the trust's account. Estate assets land in the estate's account. Each keeps its own ledger.
- The trustee distributes. Money goes out to beneficiaries as the trust directs, with the same identity checks and verified bank details Sunset uses for heirs.
One job, inside and outside the trust
Sunset keeps the trust and the estate in the same workspace. Assets outside the trust get the usual estate settlement treatment: Sunset prepares the small estate affidavit or other probate documents for the right county, and those assets close into the estate account. If a pour-over will then sends them into the trust, that transfer happens in the same place.
One search covers both. The trustee sees every task in one list, and the record shows where each dollar went, which is what beneficiaries and accountants ask for at the end.
"People set up a trust so their family can skip probate. In every trust Sunset has handled, our search has found at least one asset the deceased never got into it: an account that was never retitled, a beneficiary form that was never updated to name the trust, a transfer-on-death designation that was never filed. That's 100 percent. If you're a trustee and you think the trust covers everything, it doesn't," said Stephen Walter, an attorney and the CEO and cofounder of Sunset.
Get started
If you're already using Sunset and the deceased had a trust, check your search results. Accounts titled to the trust may already be there, labeled as trust accounts. You can add the trust to your estate in the app in one step. If you're starting fresh, visit hellosunset.com to begin. Trust administration is included in Sunset's flat fee, with no separate charge for the trust, and the fee counts as an administration expense the trustee or executor can reimburse. Questions? Reach us at [email protected].
About Sunset
Sunset is the automated estate settlement platform helping families and professionals manage what comes after a 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 funded by its bank partnerships and by Sunset Pro, a professional tier that lets attorneys and professional fiduciaries run Sunset's automated search and closure across every estate and trust they administer. Learn more at hellosunset.com.
About Sunset
The estate settlement platform
Sunset finds what the deceased owned and owed, then handles the paperwork and transfers that settle the estate. More than 15,000 families have used it, and attorneys and fiduciaries use Sunset Pro for their clients' estates.
Find every account
One search across 2,500+ financial institutions surfaces bank accounts, retirement plans, life insurance, and debts in the deceased's name.
Prepare the paperwork
Court-ready probate documents for every state and county, plus an FDIC-insured estate account to hold the funds.
Close and transfer
Sunset contacts each institution, closes the accounts, and moves the money to the beneficiaries and heirs.
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 person who has died.
Sunset 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, for $120 per estate.
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 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 the deceased 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 costs $120 per estate, paid once when you sign up. It covers asset discovery, probate document generation, account closure, asset transfers, and estate bank account setup. Full details are on our pricing page. The credit bureau notification tool and the estate bank account have no charge.
Sunset Pro is 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.
The fee counts as an estate administration expense, so you can reimburse yourself from the estate. Sunset never takes a percentage of the estate, and all assets go to the 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.
With Sunset, any fee counts as an estate administration expense the executor can reimburse from the estate, and Sunset never takes a percentage of 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.
How can I pay estate expenses?
Once you have an estate bank account, you can use it to pay legitimate expenses related to settling the estate. Sunset's fee is one of those expenses.
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?
Generally, no. The deceased's debts are paid from their estate, and family members usually don't have to pay them with their own money. You can be responsible for a debt you co-signed or held jointly, and in community property states a spouse may be responsible for some debts.
If a loan is secured by property, such as a home or vehicle, it can be paid off from estate funds or the property can transfer with the loan. Sunset flags any debt that has a living co-borrower or joint account holder.
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 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 advise you on the right probate path, they need a picture of the estate's assets and debts. Sunset's search gives you that list to share. Attorneys who want full account detail for their own work can use Sunset Pro.
