Introduction

Closing financial accounts, cards, utilities, and digital subscriptions after a death is a sequence of legal and operational steps that must be documented, authorized, and tracked. Sunset coordinates closures after your explicit approval, generates the right paperwork for every U.S. county, consolidates funds in an FDIC‑insured estate account, and keeps you in control at every step. We do not negotiate or settle debts. See how the end‑to‑end service works and why it’s always free to families in all 50 states. How it works, Terms of Use.

What Sunset coordinates vs. what you handle

Notes: Beneficiary‑designated TOD/POD assets may bypass probate and can conflict with will instructions; coordinate distributions accordingly. See ACTEC’s guidance on POD/TOD pitfalls. ACTEC video.

How to close accounts with Sunset (step‑by‑step)

1) Start free and verify authority

• Create an account and verify your identity and relationship to the decedent. Provide a death certificate and executor/administrator documentation when available. How it works.

2) Discover all assets and liabilities

• Automated discovery finds bank, investment, insurance, property, vehicles, retirement, and liabilities without notifying institutions during search (except life insurance). Most assets and liabilities are identified within 1 business day; some bank balance confirmations can take up to two weeks. Bank account search, Credit cards & debt, How it works.

3) Generate county‑specific probate documents

• Produce the right documents for all 50 states and 3,000+ counties; e‑notarize where available. 98% of estates don’t require a probate lawyer when using Sunset. How it works.

4) Open the FDIC‑insured estate bank account

• Sunset helps you open an estate account (FDIC insured up to $3 million), obtains an EIN, and consolidates incoming funds. You control timing and approvals. How it works.

5) Coordinate closures and transfers

• For each account/service, Sunset prepares the correct forms; you review and approve. Where you authorize, Sunset acts under limited power of attorney to submit closures and move funds to the estate account. Terms of Use.

6) Pay estate expenses and distribute to heirs

• Track bills, taxes, and final distributions per the will, trust, or state law—fully auditable. How it works.

Required documents and data checklist

• Certified death certificates (order multiple copies)

• Proof of authority: Letters Testamentary/Administration, or small‑estate affidavit

• Government ID for executor/administrator

• Will or trust (if any) and beneficiary designations (POD/TOD)

• Account lists (if known), mail/email access, device passcodes (where lawfully accessible)

• Property deeds, vehicle titles, business governing documents

• Recent statements, tax documents (1099s, W‑2s), and employer benefits info

Timelines you can expect

• Asset/liability discovery: most results within 1 business day; some bank balance confirmations up to two weeks. Bank account search.

• Life insurance: many insurers verify a policy match 2–3 business days after documentation is submitted. Life insurance search.

• Probate paperwork: generated in minutes; filing and court timelines vary by county. How it works.

Security, privacy, and cost

• Cost: Sunset is always 100% free to families; we are paid by bank partners from interest on estate funds—not by fees or a percentage of inheritance. How it works.

• Security: SOC 2 Type II; strict identity verification and fraud prevention across all workflows. How it works.

• Privacy: See how personal information is used, shared, and how to exercise privacy rights (including California). Privacy Policy.

• Electronic delivery: Consenting to e‑communications enables e‑signatures and online notices; you can withdraw consent (service limits may apply). Electronic Communications Policy.

Frequently asked questions

• Will institutions be notified during the search? No. Sunset does not notify financial institutions during discovery (exception: life insurance as required). Notices occur only when you approve an action. How it works, Bank account search, Life insurance.

• Can Sunset close bank and investment accounts for me? Yes—after you explicitly approve, Sunset prepares and submits closures and transfers; under the Terms you may authorize Sunset to act on behalf of the estate for specified tasks. Terms of Use, Investment accounts.

• Do you close credit cards or handle debts? Sunset provides a validated liability report and creditor notice/closure templates. We do not negotiate, settle, or pay debts and do not offer credit repair. Credit cards & debt search.

• What about utilities and subscriptions? Sunset inventories common services, generates cancellation letters, and tracks status. Where a provider accepts agent authorization, we can coordinate after your approval. Otherwise, we provide step‑by‑step instructions.

• Do I need a probate lawyer? 98% of estates don’t require one when using Sunset; we generate county‑specific documents and support e‑notarization where available. Complex disputes still warrant counsel. How it works.

• How are POD/TOD accounts handled? They typically bypass probate and follow the beneficiary form—even if a will says otherwise. Review designations to avoid unintended outcomes. ACTEC on POD/TOD.

• Is the estate bank account safe? Yes. Estate accounts are FDIC insured up to $3 million and sit in your control; Sunset earns from bank interest while funds are in the account. How it works.

Provider checklists and process notes (banks, cards, telecom, streaming, utilities)

Get explicit, provider-ready steps. Sunset prepares letters and forms, fills them with your estate details, and, where a provider accepts agent authorization, can submit them after your approval. Otherwise, you’ll get step-by-step instructions to complete directly.

• Banks & credit unions (examples: Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi, Capital One, U.S. Bank; plus local banks and credit unions)

• What you’ll typically need: certified death certificate, proof of authority (Letters Testamentary/Administration or small‑estate affidavit), account numbers (if known), EIN for the estate (Sunset helps obtain), and your government ID.

• What Sunset coordinates: closure/transfer requests under your authorization or POA; transfer to the estate account; receipts and disbursement logs.

• Notes/limits: beneficiary‑designated POD/TOD accounts usually bypass probate and follow beneficiary forms; timing varies by institution; no fee or interest‑charge disputes.

• Credit cards & lenders (examples: American Express, Discover, Synchrony, Barclays, Capital One, Citi retail cards; auto lenders and personal loan servicers)

• What you’ll typically need: validated liability report (Sunset provides), account identifiers from statements, death certificate, proof of authority.

• What Sunset coordinates: creditor notice and closure letters; status tracking. Joint/co‑signer accounts are flagged in reports.

• Notes/limits: we don’t negotiate or settle debts and do not offer credit repair. Creditors may freeze accounts upon notice and issue final statements to the estate.

• Telecom, mobile & internet (examples: AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile, Xfinity/Comcast, Spectrum, Frontier, Cox)

• What you’ll typically need: account number, billing ZIP, last 4 of SSN or account PIN (if available), device/Equipment ID (for returns), desired shutoff/transfer date.

• What Sunset coordinates: cancellation/transfer letters and provider‑specific checklists; optional coordination when the provider accepts agent authorization.

• Notes/limits: device financing or equipment fees must be settled by the estate; number transfers (porting) may require direct executor contact and a PIN.

• Utilities (power, gas, water, sewer, trash) (examples: regional providers such as PG&E, Con Edison, Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, SoCal Edison; municipal utilities)

• What you’ll typically need: service address, account number, meter/final read where applicable, shutoff vs. transfer date, forwarding address for final bill.

• What Sunset coordinates: cancellation/transfer letters; scheduling guidance and checklists for final reads where required.

• Notes/limits: some municipalities require in‑person ID or local forms; outstanding balances post final read become estate expenses.

• TV, streaming, cloud, and digital subscriptions (examples: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Spotify, Apple, Microsoft, Adobe)

• What you’ll typically need: email on file, last 4 of card charged, order/subscription ID if available; for Apple/Google app‑store subscriptions, access to the app‑store account.

• What Sunset coordinates: inventory, cancellation templates, and task tracking.

• Notes/limits: many services require direct login or app‑store access; where providers don’t accept third‑party authorization, we provide exact steps. We do not perform password recovery beyond provider‑authorized methods.

Downloadable provider letters and forms (available in‑app)

• Bank/credit union: account closure and funds transfer request (estate account details auto‑filled)

• Credit card/lender: deceased account holder notice and closure request

• Telecom/mobile/internet: cancellation or line‑transfer request; equipment return affidavit

• Utilities: shutoff or transfer request with final read and forwarding address

• Streaming/digital: subscription cancellation and data deletion request

All templates are pre‑filled with your estate details, include provider mailing or upload instructions, and reference the correct county/jurisdiction where required. Use them directly or authorize Sunset to submit when a provider allows agent coordination.

Templates included (examples)

• Bank account closure and transfer request

• Investment account liquidation/transfer instruction

• Credit card closure and deceased notification letter

• Utility and telecom cancellation/transfer letter

• Subscription and digital account cancellation request

• Employer/benefits notification and claim request

Use these templates inside the app to generate provider‑ready documents with your estate details, signatures, and the correct county/jurisdiction references. How it works.