For Attorneys
Sunset searches the IRS, credit bureaus, and banking databases to create a financial picture
The estate inventory bottleneck
Sunset gives your clients the complete picture
Instead of spending your time piecing together what the deceased owned and owed, you can start with a comprehensive inventory — bank accounts, retirement funds, investments, property, vehicles, debts, and life insurance — all verified against authoritative data sources like the IRS, credit bureaus, and national banking databases.
That means faster probate eligibility determinations, fewer surprises mid-filing, and less time chasing down missing accounts.
Sunset also handles what comes after discovery
Once you've determined the right probate path, your client can use Sunset to generate county-specific probate documents, set up an FDIC-insured estate bank account, close and transfer accounts, and distribute funds to beneficiaries — all at no extra cost to the family.
Want to offer Sunset to your clients? Contact us at partners@hellosunset.com to learn about availability, pricing, and how to get started.
On your own
With Sunset
Client spends months sorting mail and calling banks
Search IRS, credit bureaus, and banking databases automatically
90%+ of statements are paperless and inaccessible
Most assets found within 1 business day
Unknown accounts go undiscovered or get escheated
Organized report with accounts, property, and debts
Repeated back-and-forth with incomplete information
Client approves the report — you start filing immediately
Inventory deadline looms with no confidence it's complete
Comprehensive results within 7–14 days
Simple workflow for you and your clients
Step by Step
"I did things when I had time. First the bank account, then the car title a few weeks later. It felt manageable."
Clear Next Steps
"Clear steps, no stress. I always knew what came next, even for life insurance and car titles."
Guided the Whole Way
"They made a hard process simple and stress free. It felt like they were walking me through step by step."
Felt Cared For
"I felt cared for the whole way. Even when we had to handle my dad’s small business account."
Surprising Finds
"I found all of my grandma’s accounts in just a couple days, including one we didn’t even know about. I cried when I realized how much work it was going to take, but Sunset made it quick and easy."
Felt Protected
"I felt safe the whole time. They kept an eye on things for fraud so I could focus on selling the house and being with my kids."
Easy Process
"Step by step made it easy to get things done without feeling buried."
Less Scary
"They made the hard parts less scary. I just answered a few questions and felt guided."
Stress Free
"Simple and stress free from start to finish. Even the life insurance claim."
Peace of Mind
"Nothing happened unless I said so. Knowing my dad’s retirement money was safe until I was ready gave me peace of mind."
Made It Doable
"Made something complicated, like probate papers, feel doable and not so scary."
01 Attorney Setup
Upload documents and invite your client
Create a free Sunset account and start a case. Upload the death certificate, any probate filings, will, trust, or other relevant documents. Provide as much context as possible — full legal name, date of death, last known address, and any known accounts.
When you're ready, invite your client to review the information and authorize the search.
02 Sunset Search
Sunset searches government and financial databases
Once your client authorizes the search, Sunset queries the IRS, credit bureaus, Banking databases, LexisNexis, DMV records, and state unclaimed property databases. Results are returned progressively — some within hours, comprehensive banking results within 7–14 days.
Institutions are not notified of the death during this process. The search is conducted privately.
03 Estate Asset Review
You and your client both receive a detailed inventory
Both you and your client receive an organized report covering bank accounts, retirement accounts, investment accounts, life insurance policies, real property, vehicles, business interests, and debts — including account types, estimated balances, account numbers, and real estate title information.
Data sources & process
How we find accounts and assets
Sunset is SOC 2 Type II certified with annual independent audits, third-party penetration testing, and encrypted API connections.
Government records
Approved API partner of the IRS and Social Security Administration. We retrieve tax filings, 1099s, W-2s, and benefit records to identify where the deceased held accounts and earned income.
Banking databases
Approved API partner of national banking networks and LexisNexis, covering checking, savings, CDs, and money market accounts at 2,500+ financial institutions nationwide.
Credit bureaus
Approved API partner of Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. We pull full credit history to identify creditor relationships, outstanding debts, loans, and institutional connections.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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, and most clients don't have one. Sunset generates a comprehensive Estate Asset Inventory with account numbers, balances, and more, giving your attorney exactly what they need to move forward quickly.
How quickly will I see results?
Most results come fast. Here's the general timeline after your account is validated:
- Within hours: Creditors and debts, some bank accounts, property records (all 50 states), vehicle titles, and unclaimed property
- 1–2 business days: Retirement accounts (401k, IRA, pension), investment accounts (brokerage, stocks, crypto), life insurance, and business ownership. Note: these searches don't run on weekends or bank holidays.
- 7–14 days: Comprehensive bank account search with confirmed balances across all account types
Most families have 100% of assets discovered within 5–6 days.
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 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?
A 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 back 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.
How much does Sunset cost?
Sunset is free to use. Sunset never charges families or takes a percentage of the estate.
All of our tools are free, including search and discovery, probate document generation, asset transfer, and more. No upfront fees, subscriptions, and deductions from the inheritance.
Our bank partners pay us a referral fee, based on interest generated from estate bank accounts. That way, all the deceased’s assets go to the beneficiaries and heirs.
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.
