Liability Discovery

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 next day.
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 clearly flag any shared debts so that spouses and families have a clear picture.
We do not notify creditors, or pay outstanding debts. 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.”
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.
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
Who can use Sunset?
Any family member, executor, 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.
If someone else has been appointed by court or will, to manage the probate process, we’ll need a waiver from them. We can generate that waiver and automatically send for signatures if requested.
Will the financial institutions be notified when Sunset searches for the assets?
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 notified after a request for closure and transfer has been made by you.
Am I responsible for their debts?
No in most cases. If the deceased was solely responsible for the debt and it was not backed by a physical asset, such as a home or vehicle, it can often get charged off entirely.
If it was a joint credit card or loan, 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.
Do I need a lawyer if I use Sunset? What about probate documents?
In most cases, no. 98% of estates don’t require a probate lawyer. You can use our software to generate and sometimes file probate documents in every county nationwide, often avoiding legal fees altogether.
We generate county-specific probate forms, provide quick online notarization, and guide you through any assisted filings if required.
If your case is unusually complex, our team can guide you through the steps and connect you with additional resources if needed.
What is an estate bank account? Who controls it?
It’s a special 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.
After set up, you control the estate bank account. We simply help you set it up and keep your records organized. You can pay bills, taxes, and finally distribute the funds to the 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?
Your estate bank account gives you access to both physical and virtual debit cards you can use to pay expenses related to settling 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.
Anything that helps you settle your loved one’s affairs is an estate expense. 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?
Nothing. Sunset never charges families or takes a percentage of the estate.
All of our tools are free to use, 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 fee, based on interest generated from estate bank accounts. That way, all the deceased’s assets go to the beneficiaries and heirs.
How does Sunset protect against fraud or identity theft?
We run authentication on both the deceased and the executor to prevent unauthorized access, account fraud, or new accounts being opened in the decedent’s name.
What security measures does Sunset have?
Sunset is SOC 2 Type II certified, meaning 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.
How long does the process take, and can I move at my own pace?
You’ll locate most assets and liabilities within 1 business day of signup, some bank accounts take up to two weeks to confirm balance.
If you request help to close and transfer an account, we’ll start the process immediately. Some financial institutions are very quick to respond and transfer, unfortunately most are not and the process can take a few weeks.
You stay in control the whole time and nothing ever moves forward without your approval.
