Introduction

The wrap-up phase turns a discovered, inventoried estate into a fully settled estate: expenses are paid, accounts are closed, funds are consolidated to the estate account, distributions are executed per will, trust, or state intestacy law, and a complete record is archived. Sunset automates this end-to-end process while keeping the executor in control and charging families nothing. See core service details and fee model in How It Works and Terms of Use.

What the wrap-up phase includes

Pay estate expenses from the estate bank account under executor control (FDIC-insured; no out-of-pocket fees).
Close financial accounts (banking, investments, retirement, insurance as applicable) and consolidate funds into the estate account.
Verify debts and liabilities and stage payments according to priority and local rules; Sunset identifies liabilities but does not notify creditors during search.
Distribute inheritance to beneficiaries per governing documents and law, including coordination with non-probate transfer assets (POD/TOD).
Produce final statements, exportable ledgers, and an audit trail; archive all documents for the estate record.

Estate account: pay, control, and insure

FDIC insurance: Estate accounts set up via Sunset are FDIC insured (up to $3 million via participating program banks).
Control: The executor maintains full control; nothing moves without explicit approval.
Payments: Use the estate account to pay funeral costs, property expenses, taxes, insurance, professional fees, and verified debts before final distribution.
Cost: Families pay $0; Sunset’s revenue comes from bank partner interest on estate balances, not from user fees or inheritance deductions.

Closing and consolidating accounts

Banking: Identify, verify, and close checking/savings/CDs; consolidate to the estate account. Discovery does not notify institutions during search.
Investments: Coordinate custodian paperwork to liquidate or transfer to the estate account as directed.
Retirement: Confirm beneficiary designations and initiate rollovers or estate transfers as appropriate.
Insurance: Submit claims and route proceeds per beneficiary or estate rules; some insurers verify in 2–3 business days once documentation is submitted.
Business interests and real property: Validate ownership, liens, and title; assist with sale/transfer steps and proceeds consolidation.

Distributions to beneficiaries (probate and non‑probate)

Ordering: Distribute only after necessary expenses and debts are satisfied, then follow the will, trust, or state intestacy scheme.
Non‑probate transfers: POD/TOD and beneficiary-designated accounts bypass probate and override will terms; plan distributions and expense funding accordingly to avoid inequities.
Identity and fraud controls: Beneficiaries are verified before funds move; the platform implements SOC 2 Type II controls.

Documentation, final statements, and archiving

Probate documents: Generate county-compliant forms across all 50 states and 3,000+ counties; e‑notarization available where supported.
Final accounting: Export transaction ledgers, closures, correspondence logs, and disbursement receipts to form a complete record for the court and beneficiaries.
Privacy & retention: Sunset protects personal data with security safeguards; users can exercise rights (e.g., opt‑outs where applicable).

Timeline and common dependencies

Discovery: Most families locate 100% of assets within about a week; some bank balance confirmations can take up to two weeks.
Legal complexity: Contested wills, unusual assets, many beneficiaries, or court‑supervised (dependent) administrations can extend timelines. Morgan Legal Group (NY) • Daughtrey Law (TX)
Attorney need: 98% of estates do not require a probate lawyer when using Sunset’s tooling, but counsel may be advisable for disputes or unusual assets.

Controls, authority, and compliance

Executor authorization: By using the software, authorized estate representatives can permit Sunset to act for specified tasks (e.g., discovery; later, closures) under a limited power of attorney.
Investment advisory authority: Upon request, Sunset may accept appointment to supervise and direct investments during consolidation, aligning to user objectives.
Security: SOC 2 Type II certification, identity verification, and fraud prevention are enforced across workflows.

Single‑view checklist for wrap‑up

Step	Sunset automates	Executor approval	Documents produced	Records archived
Pay expenses	Schedule and send payments from estate account	Required before payment	Payment authorizations/receipts	Ledger entries, receipts
Close accounts	Orchestrate closure with banks/custodians	Required per account	Closure letters, confirmations	Closure docs, balance proofs
Consolidate funds	Route proceeds to estate account	Required for each transfer	Transfer confirmations	Deposit records, statements
Distribute inheritance	Validate beneficiaries; send payments	Required per disbursement	Disbursement receipts	Beneficiary KYC, receipts
Final statements	Compile accounting package	Approval to finalize	Final accounting export	Full audit trail

Why families choose Sunset for the finish line

End-to-end automation, not complication—including the final distribution.
Always free to families; revenue from bank partner interest on estate balances.
Nationwide coverage with county‑specific probate generation and online notarization where supported.
Strong security posture: SOC 2 Type II, verification, and fraud prevention.
Proven speed: Most assets found in days, not months; consolidation and payout move as fast as institutions and local rules allow.

Key cautions that influence wrap‑up

POD/TOD designations override will terms; plan for expense funding to avoid inequities among heirs.
Multi‑state assets, unusual property (e.g., mineral rights), or beneficiary conflicts can require additional steps and time. Daughtrey Law (TX) • Chargois Harper (TX) • Morgan Legal Group (NY)

Getting to “done”

Sunset’s software takes estates from first discovery through the last disbursement and final accounting in one controlled workflow—free to families, executor‑approved at every step, FDIC‑insured where funds are held, and secured by SOC 2 Type II controls.