Liability Discovery

Discover credit cards and other debts after a death

Identify credit cards, loans, mortgages, and more

We'll find it all for you

We work with all three major credit bureaus to identify credit cards, loans, mortgages, and other liabilities tied to the deceased, giving you a complete financial view.

We'll pull full credit reports from each bureau and compile a single liability report. Because we pull data directly from the credit bureaus, search results are instant.

You can decide what's next

While most obligations are paid from the deceased’s assets, some debts, such as joint credit cards, co-signed loans, or state-specific community property debts, may still affect a surviving spouse or co-borrower. We highlight any shared debts so that spouses and families have a clear picture.

You can use Sunset's closure tool to easily notify creditors over email, fax, phone and more. Most creditors are cooperative once they receive notice of a death, and many will waive or write off remaining balances when proper documentation is provided.

$50 Billion

consumer debt written off annually

96%

of Sunset users find open lines of credit

100%

validated directly from credit bureaus

Get a clear picture of outstanding debts

Credit Cards

We instantly find and report open credit cards and balances, so you can decide how and when to notify creditors. We'll also list all closed credit cards so you can make sure everything is covered.

Personal Loans

We quickly search for personal loans — open, closed, or written off — and report the balances so you can plan repayment or settlement with confidence.

Sunset does not notify creditors or close accounts on your behalf.

Auto Loans & Leases

We locate vehicle loans and leases, and always include the current balance due and status. You’ll have a clear picture for paying off, transferring, or returning the vehicle.

Mortgages & HELOCs

We confirm mortgage and home equity line balances. This is very important to make sure a mortgage continues to be kept current while you decide to sell, transfer, or refinance the property.

“Sunset gave me a full list of my dad’s credit cards and loans instantly. I knew in minutes which bills still needed to be paid which was a huge relief.”
Erica Bennett
Atlanta, GA

Student Loans

Some student loans qualify for a discharge after a death, we’ll get you instant info on the status, creditor and balance of a student loan. For private student loans, you’ll be able to quickly contact creditors to notify them and work to hopefully discharge.

Business Loans

We identify outstanding and even closed business loans, from SBA-backed financing to equipment leases, so you can decide how to resolve them. We can often include contact info for the creditor.

Medical Debt

We collect a complete list of hospital and provider bills, even those sent to collections or charged-off, so you can pay them in the correct order and avoid surprises.

Stress Free

“Thanks to Sunset, settling my grandpa's estate was a breeze. It made everything so clear and simple, and I didn't have to spend a fortune on legal fees.”

Daniel K.
Washington, DC

Easy Process

“Thanks to Sunset, settling my grandpa's estate was a breeze. It made everything so clear and simple, and I didn't have to spend a fortune on legal fees.”

Brian S.
Charlotte, NC

Surprising Finds

“Thanks to Sunset, settling my grandpa's estate was a breeze. It made everything so clear and simple, and I didn't have to spend a fortune on legal fees.”

Angela T.
Phoenix, AZ

Felt Cared For

“Thanks to Sunset, settling my grandpa's estate was a breeze. It made everything so clear and simple, and I didn't have to spend a fortune on legal fees.”

Olivia H.
Nashville, TN

Made It Doable

“Thanks to Sunset, settling my grandpa's estate was a breeze. It made everything so clear and simple, and I didn't have to spend a fortune on legal fees.”

Tina N.
Portland, OR

Less Scary

“Thanks to Sunset, settling my grandpa's estate was a breeze. It made everything so clear and simple, and I didn't have to spend a fortune on legal fees.”

Steven A.
Orlando, FL

Clear Next Steps

“Thanks to Sunset, settling my grandpa's estate was a breeze. It made everything so clear and simple, and I didn't have to spend a fortune on legal fees.”

Melissa G.
Philadelphia, PA

Felt Protected

“Thanks to Sunset, settling my grandpa's estate was a breeze. It made everything so clear and simple, and I didn't have to spend a fortune on legal fees.”

Rachel C.
Pacifica, CA

Guided the Whole Way

“Thanks to Sunset, settling my grandpa's estate was a breeze. It made everything so clear and simple, and I didn't have to spend a fortune on legal fees.”

John P.
Boston, MA

Peace of Mind

“Thanks to Sunset, settling my grandpa's estate was a breeze. It made everything so clear and simple, and I didn't have to spend a fortune on legal fees.”

Mark E.
Houston, TX

Step by Step

“Thanks to Sunset, settling my grandpa's estate was a breeze. It made everything so clear and simple, and I didn't have to spend a fortune on legal fees.”

Hannah B.
San Diego, CA

Lines of Credit

We confirm balances on open or closed lines of credit and provide details so you can freeze, repay, or close them before any deceased assets are distributed.

Factoring & Merchant Cash Advances

We search for agreements tied to future receivables and show the remaining obligation, making it easier to negotiate or settle with the lender.

Collections & Charge-Offs

We find and flag accounts that have gone to collections or been charged off and verify the amounts owed so you can choose whether to settle or dispute them.

Frequently asked questions

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 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.

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 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.