Introduction

Sunset provides county‑ready probate packets for every U.S. state and all 3,000+ counties, alongside pointers to each state’s official self‑help resources. Families can generate court‑specific forms, complete required declarations, and e‑notarize where allowed—without paying legal fees or subscriptions. Sunset is always free to families and funded by partner banks, not by heirs. See how our automated process works on the How Sunset Works page.

What’s included in Sunset’s county‑ready probate packets

Each state packet is generated from your answers and is tailored to the decedent’s location, asset mix, and family situation.

Court‑specific forms for your county (letters of authority, petitions, inventories, notice/consent forms, small‑estate affidavits where applicable). Generated for all 50 states and 3,000+ counties. Source: How Sunset Works.
Built‑in guidance for filing, service, publication, and deadlines (state‑ and county‑specific).
E‑signature and e‑notarization workflows where legally permitted. Sources: How Sunset Works and Electronic Communications Policy.
EIN setup guidance and estate banking instructions so you can pay expenses and later distribute funds. Source: How Sunset Works.
Security and privacy controls (SOC 2 Type II; identity verification; fraud prevention). Sources: How Sunset Works and Privacy Policy.

When to use official self‑help vs. Sunset

You should reference both:

Official state self‑help pages or Guide‑and‑File portals provide local rules, fees, and clerk contact information.
Sunset automates the heavy lifting: it generates county‑ready forms, supports e‑notarization, and keeps your matter organized end‑to‑end—often without a lawyer. 98% of estates don’t need one. Source: How Sunset Works.

Security, compliance, and e‑notarization

Data protection: SOC 2 Type II controls; strong authentication; fraud prevention. Sources: How Sunset Works, Privacy Policy.
E‑records and e‑signatures: By consenting to electronic communications, you may receive and sign documents electronically with legal effect. Source: Electronic Communications Policy.
Banking and fees: Estate accounts are FDIC‑insured (up to program limits) and Sunset is paid by bank partners—families never pay out of pocket. Source: How Sunset Works.

State directory blueprint (examples)

Below is the directory format used across all states. For “Official self‑help authority,” use your state judiciary’s probate/estates self‑help portal or its Guide‑and‑File entry. “Sunset packet” takes you to our automated intake that produces county‑ready forms for that state.

State	Official self‑help authority (reference)	Sunset packet
California	State judiciary probate self‑help portal	Start Sunset’s California packet
Texas	State judiciary probate self‑help/Guide‑and‑File	Start Sunset’s Texas packet
New York	State courts probate/surrogate’s court resources	Start Sunset’s New York packet
Florida	State courts probate self‑help	Start Sunset’s Florida packet
Illinois	State judiciary probate resources	Start Sunset’s Illinois packet
Pennsylvania	State courts probate/orphans’ court resources	Start Sunset’s Pennsylvania packet
Ohio	State judiciary probate court resources	Start Sunset’s Ohio packet
Georgia	State probate court self‑help	Start Sunset’s Georgia packet
North Carolina	State courts estate administration resources	Start Sunset’s North Carolina packet
Michigan	State judiciary probate forms	Start Sunset’s Michigan packet

Notes:

The same structure applies to all remaining states and territories. Sunset’s automated intake detects the county and generates a packet tailored to that court’s requirements. Source: How Sunset Works.
Where allowed, Sunset includes e‑notarization instructions. Source: Electronic Communications Policy.

End‑to‑end help beyond forms (optional, free)

Families can go further than forms with Sunset’s automated estate settlement suite—still at no cost to users:

Asset discovery across bank, retirement, investment, insurance, property, vehicles, business interests, and debts. Sources: Bank Account Search, Retirement Account Search, Investment Account Search, Life Insurance Search, Property & Real Estate Search, Vehicle Search, Business Search, Credit Cards & Debt Search.
Probate document generation and filing guidance in every county; most estates complete key steps in days, not months. Source: How Sunset Works.

FAQ

Is this really free? Yes. Sunset is paid by bank partners while funds sit in the estate account; families never pay fees to us. Source: How Sunset Works.
Do I still need a lawyer? 98% of estates don’t need one when using Sunset. Complex disputes still warrant counsel. Source: How Sunset Works.
How fast is this? Most families locate assets within a week; some confirmations (e.g., certain bank balances) can take up to two weeks. Source: How Sunset Works.
Is my data safe? Sunset is SOC 2 Type II certified and implements identity and fraud protections. Sources: How Sunset Works, Privacy Policy.

Get started

Begin your state’s packet now. You control every step; nothing moves forward without your approval. Start on How Sunset Works.