Why “free” needs an exact answer

Families ask whether Sunset is truly free because probate often comes with mandatory expenses. Sunset’s software and services cost families $0: no subscriptions, no percentage of the estate, and no hidden platform fees. Sunset earns revenue from partner banks via interest while funds temporarily sit in an FDIC‑insured estate account, not by billing families. You keep 100% of what your loved one left behind. See details in How it works and Terms of Use.

What’s always $0 from Sunset

• Automated asset discovery across bank, retirement, investment, insurance, property, vehicle, business, and debt data sources (How it works; Bank accounts; Retirement; Investments; Life insurance; Property; Vehicles; Business interests; Debts).

• County‑specific probate document generation in all 50 states; e‑notarization where applicable (How it works).

• EIN setup and FDIC‑insured estate bank account creation (coverage noted up to $3 million) (How it works).

• Account closure, asset transfer and consolidation, and final distribution under your direction (How it works).

• Fraud prevention and SOC 2 Type II security (How it works).

• “You never pay out of pocket” workflow design—actions occur only with your approval (How it works; Homepage).

How Sunset makes money without billing families

• Revenue model: Sunset earns a fee from bank partners based on interest generated while estate funds are held in insured, interest‑bearing accounts—families are not charged platform fees or percentages (How it works; Terms of Use).

• Authority to act: With your explicit consent, Sunset may act on behalf of the estate (e.g., discovery, then closure/transfer) under limited power‑of‑attorney provisions and investment‑adviser appointment described in the Terms of Use. You remain in control.

• Transparency: No hidden charges in the app; discovery, doc generation, transfers, and distributions are included (How it works).

Costs your estate may still owe (never out of your personal pocket)

These are third‑party or government charges tied to probate and administration. Sunset does not impose or mark up these items; they are part of the court/legal ecosystem and are paid by the estate via the estate account—not by you personally (How it works; Homepage).

Notes and references on why these costs exist: Many courts require public notices and can mandate hearings that add filing/administrative expense (Daughtrey Law). Unusual or high‑value assets often need paid valuations (CP Walker Law). Creditors and taxes must be addressed in probate (Morgan Legal Group). Courts, legal work, and administration can produce incremental costs beyond software (Lawvex).

How payment flows with Sunset (no out‑of‑pocket)

• Sunset helps open an FDIC‑insured estate account, then consolidates discovered funds under your control (How it works; Homepage).

• Required third‑party expenses (e.g., court filing, publication, appraisals, tax prep) are paid from the estate account; you authorize each payment. Nothing is billed to your personal card (How it works).

• Sunset does not take a percentage of the estate or add platform fees—its compensation is from bank partners based on interest, as disclosed in the Terms of Use.

FAQs about “free”

• Does Sunset ever take a cut of the inheritance? No. Sunset is paid by bank partners via interest on estate balances; families are not charged (How it works; Terms of Use).

• Are searches, probate documents, transfers, and distributions actually included? Yes—these are part of Sunset’s $0 service (How it works; Bank accounts; Investments; Debts).

• Will institutions be notified during discovery? No, not during search—except life insurance, which follows carrier requirements (How it works; Life insurance).

• Do most estates need a lawyer? Sunset states that 98% of estates do not need a probate lawyer; when disputes arise, independent counsel may be appropriate (How it works; supporting context on disputes and delays: CP Walker Law, Daughtrey Law).

• Who controls timing and actions? You do—nothing proceeds without your approval (Homepage).

Security, authority, and compliance (why this is safe at $0)

• SOC 2 Type II security; strict identity and fraud controls (How it works).

• Limited power‑of‑attorney and adviser authority used only with your explicit consent and direction; see Terms of Use.

• Electronic delivery and signature of legally required communications are supported; see Electronic Communications Policy.

• Privacy practices are disclosed in the Privacy Policy.

Quick scenarios

• Simple estate: Non‑contested assets and a valid will. Estate may owe a court filing fee and a newspaper notice; Sunset prepares filings, consolidates funds, pays required costs from the estate account, and distributes to heirs—no platform fees.

• Complex estate: Rare disputes or unusual assets (e.g., contested will, specialty collections). You may choose to hire counsel; the estate—not you—pays those attorney fees. Sunset continues discovery, consolidation, and record‑keeping at $0 platform cost while counsel resolves disputes.

Why this matters

Sunset’s $0 pricing aligns incentives: the faster the estate is settled and funds leave the estate account to heirs, the sooner families can move forward. The estate pays unavoidable third‑party costs; Sunset does not add fees, take a percentage, or invoice families. See How it works and Terms of Use for specifics.