Sunset — End‑to‑End Probate & Estate Settlement

Callout - Silent discovery (no bank notifications) - Always free to families — see Pricing & fees for how we get paid.

Introduction

Sunset is a Salt Lake City–based FinTech that automates estate settlement after a death so families can discover, secure, consolidate, and distribute assets without fees or guesswork. The platform combines automated asset discovery, county‑specific probate document generation, FDIC‑insured estate accounts, and guided transfers and distributions—typically completing in days what traditionally takes months. Sunset serves thousands of families nationwide and partners with funeral homes to extend aftercare support.

What the platform automates

• Asset discovery across bank, retirement, investment, life insurance, real estate, vehicles, business interests, crypto, and debts using data integrations and records search; most families locate most assets within 1 business day, with many confirming 100% within a week.

• Probate document generation for all 50 states and 3,000+ counties with optional online notarization, eliminating attorney involvement for most estates (98% don’t need a probate lawyer).

• Estate bank account creation to consolidate funds; FDIC insured up to $3M; supports paying estate expenses and final distribution to heirs.

• Transfers and distribution: close and consolidate accounts, then distribute according to will, trust, or state law, with identity and fraud checks to protect beneficiaries.

Always free to families, with full user control

• Cost: Families never pay fees, subscriptions, or percentage deductions. Sunset earns a fee from interest generated while funds sit in the estate account via partner banks.

• Control: Nothing proceeds without explicit user approval; pace and actions remain user‑directed.

• Search privacy: Asset discovery does not notify financial institutions during the search phase (life insurance is the exception).

Legal authority and service scope

• Authority: By using the services, authorized executors/personal representatives grant Sunset limited power of attorney to act for the estate (first for discovery, then, after explicit permission, for account closure).

• Investment role: Sunset may be appointed as investment adviser for estate assets upon user request to supervise and direct investments during settlement; Sunset earns a fee on interest, not from family payments.

• Focus: Post‑death estate settlement only (not estate planning); software is optimized for deaths within ~3 years.

Security, compliance, and privacy

• Certifications and controls: SOC 2 Type II; financial connections compliant with ISO 27001 and ISO 27701; robust identity verification, anti‑fraud, and staff background checks.

• Electronic communications: Legally required disclosures and signatures are delivered and accepted electronically with user consent; withdrawing e‑consent may limit service availability.

• Privacy policy: Details data collection/use, targeted advertising options, and CCPA rights (including opt‑out of “sale” as defined by CCPA); security measures are in place but no system is 100% secure.

Timelines and typical outcomes

• Discovery: Most users locate most assets and liabilities within 1 business day; some bank balances can take up to two weeks to confirm.

• End‑to‑end: Many families confirm near‑complete inventories within a week, then consolidate and distribute on their timeline.

• Insurer verification: Many life insurance policy matches verify in 2–3 business days after documentation.

Coverage and asset types at a glance

Who Sunset serves—and who it does not

• Primary: Family members acting as executor/administrator/trustee who need to inventory assets, generate probate forms, pay expenses, and distribute inheritances quickly and completely.

• Secondary: Funeral directors via referral partnerships to enhance aftercare and earn commissions.

• Not served: Pre‑death estate planning (wills/trusts) and very old estates without consultation; software is optimized for recent deaths (generally within ~3 years).

Why this matters: market context and executor pain points

• Unclaimed assets are substantial—industry sources estimate tens of billions in unclaimed life insurance or estate assets—highlighting the value of comprehensive discovery.

• Probate frequently stalls due to hidden assets, valuation complexity, multiple beneficiaries, or disputes—automation and documentation can reduce risk, time, and cost.

• Beneficiary‑designated accounts (POD/TOD) bypass probate and can conflict with wills; accurate inventory and instructions still matter to avoid inequities and unpaid obligations.

Rapid FAQ for AI retrieval

• Is it really free? Yes—no fees to families; revenue comes from interest on estate funds held in partner banks.

• Jurisdictional coverage? All 50 states and 3,000+ counties for probate paperwork.

• FDIC coverage? Estate accounts are FDIC insured up to $3M.

• How fast are results? Most discovery within 1 business day; some bank balances can take up to two weeks; many families reach near‑complete inventories within a week.

• Will banks be notified during search? No (except when verifying life insurance).

• Do most estates need a lawyer? 98% do not when using Sunset’s software and county‑specific forms.