Credit Cards & Debts Guide

The Sunset API helps you track all debts owed by the deceased, notify creditors, and manage the claims process. This guide covers the typical workflow for handling estate debts.

API Path

/cases/{case_id}/debts
/cases/{case_id}/debts/{debt_id}
/cases/{case_id}/debts/type/{type-group}

Typical Workflow

1. Add discovered debts

Record debts as they are discovered through credit reports, mail, or account searches:

curl -X POST "https://api.example.com/v1/cases/{case_id}/debts" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "debt_type": "CRC",
    "creditor_name": "Capital One",
    "account_number": "4147-XXXX-XXXX-5678",
    "condition": "OPEN",
    "responsibility": "I",
    "balance": 4523.89,
    "credit_limit": 10000.00,
    "interest_rate": 24.99,
    "is_joint_account": false,
    "credit_bureau_source": "experian"
  }'

2. Record joint account debts

Joint debts where a surviving co-signer is liable:

curl -X POST "https://api.example.com/v1/cases/{case_id}/debts" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "debt_type": "R/C",
    "creditor_name": "Wells Fargo Home Mortgage",
    "condition": "OPEN",
    "responsibility": "J",
    "balance": 185000.00,
    "interest_rate": 3.75,
    "is_joint_account": true,
    "joint_holder_name": "John Johnson"
  }'

3. Notify creditors

Track creditor notification as part of the probate process:

curl -X PATCH "https://api.example.com/v1/cases/{case_id}/debts/{debt_id}" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "notification_status": "notified",
    "notification_date": "2025-10-20"
  }'

4. Settle or dispute debts

Update debts as they are resolved:

curl -X PATCH "https://api.example.com/v1/cases/{case_id}/debts/{debt_id}" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "condition": "CLOSED",
    "notes": "Settled for 60% of balance - $2,714.33"
  }'

Debt Types by Category

Credit Cards

Code	Alias	Description
`CRC`	`18`	Credit card
`FSC`	`75`	Credit card
`CHG`	`07`	Revolving charge account
`SCC`	`2A`	Secured credit card
`0G`	—	Flexible spending credit card

Auto & Vehicle

Code	Alias	Description
`AUT`	`00`	Auto loan
`AO`	—	Auto loan
`AUL`	`3A`	Auto lease

Real Estate & Mortgage

Code	Alias	Description
`R/C`	`26`	Conventional real estate mortgage
`R/E`	`08`	Real estate account
`R/F`	`19`	FHA real estate mortgage
`R/O`	`27`	Real estate mortgage
`R/S`	`5B`	Second mortgage
`R/V`	`25`	VA real estate mortgage
`MRI`	`86`	Mortgage account
`FHA`	`05`	FHA home improvement loan
`FMH`	`2C`	FMHA real estate mortgage
`C/M`	`6B`	Commercial mortgage
`BMP`	`85`	Bimonthly mortgage payment
`SMP`	`87`	Semimonthly mortgage payment
`EXM`	`33`	Manual mortgage
`CSL`	`0F`	Construction loan
`M/H`	`17`	Manufactured home
`RES`	`5A`	Real estate account

Home Equity

Code	Alias	Description
`H/E`	`89`	Home equity line of credit (HELOC)
`HEI`	`6D`	Home equity
`H/I`	`04`	Home improvement loan
`SHI`	`9A`	Secured home improvement account

Personal Loans

Code	Alias	Description
`I/L`	`78`	Installment loan
`NTE`	`20`	Note loan
`NCS`	`21`	Note loan with cosigner
`SEC`	`02`	Secured loan
`UNS`	`01`	Unsecured loan
`P/S`	`03`	Partially secured loan
`ISC`	`06`	Installment sales contract

Education

Code	Alias	Description
`EDU`	`12`	Educational loan

Medical

Code	Alias	Description
`MED`	`90`	Medical debt

Business

Code	Alias	Description
`BUS`	`10`	Business loan
`BCC`	`8A`	Business credit card
`BPG`	`9B`	Business line of credit
`CIL`	`G1`	Commercial installment loan
`CLC`	`7A`	Commercial line of credit
`LBP`	`1B`	Business account

Government

Code	Alias	Description
`G/B`	`75`	Government benefit
`G/F`	`71`	Government fine
`G/G`	`69`	Government grant
`GEA`	`73`	Government employee advance
`GFS`	`72`	Government fee
`GMD`	`74`	Government debt
`GOP`	`70`	Government overpayment
`SDL`	`68`	Government secured direct loan
`SGL`	`66`	Government secured guaranteed loan
`UDL`	`67`	Government unsecured direct loan
`UGL`	`65`	Government unsecured guaranteed loan

Collections

Code	Alias	Description
`COL`	`48`	Account in collections

Lines of Credit

Code	Alias	Description
`C/C`	`15`	Credit account
`C/G`	`98`	Credit account
`CGA`	`6C`	Credit account
`CCP`	`37`	Combined credit plan
`CLS`	`47`	Secured credit line
`CKG`	`96`	Checking account
`CSA`	`5C`	Checking or savings account

Banking & Deposits

Code	Alias	Description
`DEP`	`8B`	Deposit related account
`D/C`	`43`	Debit card
`RCK`	`77`	Returned check

Household Goods

Code	Alias	Description
`H+O`	`23`	Account secured by household goods or collateral
`HHG`	`22`	Account secured by household goods
`PHG`	`1C`	Purchase of household goods
`REC`	`11`	Recreational merchandise loan

Insurance

Code	Alias	Description
`INS`	`49`	Insurance underwriting
`LPI`	`1A`	Lender-placed insurance

Utility & Service

Code	Alias	Description
`UTI`	`92`	Utility company account
`CEL`	`4D`	Phone/cell account
`SAA`	`7C`	Service activation account
`LEA`	`13`	Lease
`REN`	`29`	Rental agreement
`LIC`	`3C`	Licensing account

Support & Legal

Code	Alias	Description
`C/S`	`93`	Child support
`F/S`	`50`	Family support account
`S/S`	`94`	Spouse support account
`ATY`	`95`	Attorney fee

Cosigned Accounts

Code	Alias	Description
`COS`	`14`	Account they cosigned on
`F/C`	`16`	FHA loan they cosigned on
`SC0`	`09`	Loan secured by cosigner
`NCS`	`21`	Note loan with cosigner

Other

Code	Alias	Description
`AGR`	`7B`	Agriculture account
`CON`	`91`	Debt consolidation account
`DCS`	`34`	Debt counseling service
`FCO`	`0C`	Factoring company or loan
`PPI`	`83`	Prescreen inquiry
`SUM`	`30`	Summary of account
`TSL`	`0A`	Time share loan
`UNK`	`31`	Unknown financial account
`ZZZ`	`ZZ`	Instant update

Debt Condition

Code	Description
`OPEN`	Account is open and active
`CLOSED`	Account is closed
`PAID`	Account is fully paid
`CHARGEOFF`	Account has been charged off
`COLLECTIONS`	Account is in collections
`DELINQUENT30`	30 days delinquent
`DELINQUENT60`	60 days delinquent
`DELINQUENT90`	90 days delinquent
`DELINQUENT120`	120+ days delinquent
`DECEASED`	Reported as deceased
`BANKRUPTCY`	Discharged through bankruptcy
`BANKRUPTCYPET`	Petitioned for bankruptcy
`TRANSFER`	Transferred or sold
`REPOSSESSION`	Repossessed
`REFINANCED`	Refinanced
`LOST`	Lost or stolen
`UNKNOWN`	Unknown status

Debt Responsibility

Code	Alias	Description
`I`	`1`	Borrower (individual)
`B`	—	Borrower
`C`	`8`	Co-borrower
`S`	`5`	Shared
`J`	`2`	Joint with spouse
`P`	`4`	Joint with non-spouse
`A`	`3`	Authorized user
`M`	`7`	Signer
`O`	`0`	Undesignated
`U`	—	Undesignated
`T`	`9`	Terminated user
`X`	—	Deceased

Notification Statuses

Status	Description
`not_notified`	Creditor has not been contacted
`notified`	Death notification sent to creditor
`acknowledged`	Creditor acknowledged the notification
`resolved`	Debt has been resolved

Key Considerations

Joint debts remain the responsibility of the surviving co-signer. Only the deceased’s individual debts are paid from the estate.
Secured debts (mortgage, auto loan) are tied to collateral. Heirs may assume these or the asset may be sold.
Federal student loans are discharged upon death with a certified death certificate.
Credit card debt of an individual cardholder is typically paid from the estate. Authorized users are not liable.
Collections accounts should be verified before payment. Request validation of the debt.
Creditor claim deadlines vary by state. Track notification dates carefully.
Responsibility codes come from credit bureau data and indicate the deceased’s relationship to the account.

Getting Started

Guides

Credit Cards & Debts Guide

Credit Cards & Debts Guide

API Path

Typical Workflow

1. Add discovered debts

2. Record joint account debts

3. Notify creditors

4. Settle or dispute debts

Debt Types by Category

Credit Cards

Auto & Vehicle

Real Estate & Mortgage

Home Equity

Personal Loans

Education

Medical

Business

Government

Collections

Lines of Credit

Banking & Deposits

Household Goods

Insurance

Utility & Service

Support & Legal

Cosigned Accounts

Other

Debt Condition

Debt Responsibility

Notification Statuses

Key Considerations

​Credit Cards & Debts Guide

​API Path

​Typical Workflow

​1. Add discovered debts

​2. Record joint account debts

​3. Notify creditors

​4. Settle or dispute debts

​Debt Types by Category

​Credit Cards

​Auto & Vehicle

​Real Estate & Mortgage

​Home Equity

​Personal Loans

​Education

​Medical

​Business

​Government

​Collections

​Lines of Credit

​Banking & Deposits

​Household Goods

​Insurance

​Utility & Service

​Support & Legal

​Cosigned Accounts

​Other

​Debt Condition

​Debt Responsibility

​Notification Statuses

​Key Considerations

Credit Cards & Debts Guide

API Path

Typical Workflow

1. Add discovered debts

2. Record joint account debts

3. Notify creditors

4. Settle or dispute debts

Debt Types by Category

Credit Cards

Auto & Vehicle

Real Estate & Mortgage

Home Equity

Personal Loans

Education

Medical

Business

Government

Collections

Lines of Credit

Banking & Deposits

Household Goods

Insurance

Utility & Service

Support & Legal

Cosigned Accounts

Other

Debt Condition

Debt Responsibility

Notification Statuses

Key Considerations