What Is an Inheritance Advance?

How heirs can access their inheritance in as little as 24 hours — without a loan, credit check, or repayment.

If you have recently inherited property but are stuck waiting for the probate court to finish, an inheritance advance can put cash in your hands now instead of months (or years) from now. Here is exactly how it works, what it costs, and how fast you can get funded.

What is an inheritance advance?

An inheritance advance is a lump sum of cash paid to a named heir or beneficiary before a probate estate finishes distributing. In exchange, the funding company receives a portion of your future inheritance once probate closes. You get money today; they wait for the estate to pay out.

Crucially, an inheritance advance is not a loan. There is no interest rate, no monthly payment, and no credit check. Because you are simply accessing value that is already yours, there is nothing to "pay back" out of pocket — the advance is settled directly from the estate.

How does it work, step by step?

1. Apply. Share basic details: your name, contact info, the inherited property, and the status of the probate case.
2. Case review. The funding company verifies that you are a named heir and estimates the value of your share of the estate.
3. Offer. You are offered an advance amount based on the value of your inheritance — not your income or credit.
4. Get funded. Once you accept, funds can be sent in as little as 24 hours.
5. Settlement. When probate closes and the estate distributes, the advance is repaid from your inheritance. Nothing comes out of your pocket.

What does an inheritance advance cost?

Instead of interest, inheritance advances use a fixed fee agreed up front. You know the exact amount that will be settled from the estate before you accept — there are no surprises, no compounding interest, and no penalty if probate takes longer than expected. Because the funding company assumes the risk of the probate process, the fee reflects that risk rather than a rate that grows over time.

How fast can you get the money?

For straightforward cases with clear documentation, funds can be available within 24 hours of eligibility being confirmed. The main variable is how quickly the probate case details can be verified. (See our how it works page for the full timeline.)

Who qualifies?

You generally qualify if you are a named heir or beneficiary expecting to inherit real estate or cash from a probate estate or trust — in any of the 50 states. Bad credit, no job, or living in a different state than the probate case are all fine. Eligibility is about your inheritance, not your finances.

Is an inheritance advance right for you?

An advance makes sense when you have pressing needs — funeral costs, mortgage or property taxes on the inherited home, legal fees, or simply the need to move forward — and you do not want to wait for a slow probate court. If you would rather keep your property and simply access some of its value early, an advance is often a better fit than a probate loan or selling your inheritance outright.

This article is general information about inheritance advances, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Eligibility and advance amounts vary by case. Inheritance advances are not loans.