Uncover and claim life insurance after a death
Use the Sunset estate settlement tool to discover and claim life insurance policies.
Find life insurance policies that provide critical support
First we can help you track down a policy
We'll check across major insurance carriers, group plans, and government programs to make sure no benefits go unclaimed including Northwestern Mutual, MetLife, New York Life, Prudential and more.
Sunset discovers most policies within 1 business day. This step does put the insurance company on notice of the death, which is different than all of our other search tools.
Then we can help you submit a claim
When you are ready, use Sunset to draft and submit claim forms over email, fax, etc. We can also connect you with the insurance company to confirm payout amounts and answer questions. We can also handle claim follow up paperwork, so you don’t have to manage the process alone.
$7.4
billion in unclaimed US life insurance
25%
of families have a lost insurance policy
$0
Sunset is 100% free to us
Let's find every policy
Term Life Insurance
Should death occur during the policy term (typically 10, 20, or 30 years), named beneficiaries receive a tax-free lump sum. Claims are validated by insurers; if approved, beneficiaries are notified and paid by check, with varying timelines.
Whole Life Insurance
This policy involves lifetime coverage and pays out a guaranteed death benefit to beneficiaries. Families may also receive a payout of any accumulated cash value, which we can help confirm with the carrier.
If approved, beneficiaries are notified and paid by check, with varying timelines.
Universal Life Insurance
Offers lifetime coverage with adjustable benefits. After a death, Sunset verifies the current death benefit and ensures beneficiaries receive both the face amount and any credited interest or cash value.
Variable Life Insurance
Includes a death benefit tied to market performance. We work with carriers to review the policy’s current value, explain any market-related adjustments, and secure the correct payout for beneficiaries.
“I had no idea if my dad even had life insurance, and I didn’t know where to start looking. Sunset found his policy right away and confirmed I was the beneficiary. Having the payout come through so quickly made a really hard time a lot easier.”
Employer-Provided Group Life Insurance
Coverage offered through an employer or union. These policies are often overlooked, so Sunset checks with HR departments and plan administrators to locate coverage and help beneficiaries file for benefits.
Government & Military Policies (SGLI, VGLI, FEGLI)
Policies for military service members and federal employees. Sunset confirms coverage with the appropriate government office and helps beneficiaries claim the funds owed to them, even after a retirement or separation.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
Supplemental & Accidental Death Policies
Provide additional payouts in cases of accidental death or dismemberment. Sunset verifies eligibility, gathers required documentation (such as police reports if needed), and ensures the full benefit is collected.
Annuity with Death Benefit Rider
If the deceased owned an annuity with a death benefit, we confirm the contract terms and arrange for the payout to the listed beneficiaries, which can provide ongoing income or a lump-sum payment.
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.
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