What Happens to a Structured Settlement When You Die?
Learn what happens to your structured settlement after death. Understand the difference between guaranteed and life contingent payments, beneficiary designations, and your options.
Lottery Taxes by State: Federal & State Tax Guide (2026)
Complete guide to lottery taxes. See federal tax rates, state-by-state lottery tax rates for all 50 states, and how lump sum vs. annuity affects your tax bill.
What to Do If You Win the Lottery: A Financial Checklist
Won the lottery? Follow this step-by-step checklist covering taxes, privacy, financial planning, and the lump sum vs. annuity decision. Protect your winnings.
What Is a Discount Rate? How Structured Settlement Offers Work
Learn how discount rates determine your structured settlement or annuity lump sum offer. Understand the factors, typical ranges, state caps, and how to compare quotes.
Structured Settlements for Minors: What Parents Need to Know
Learn how structured settlements for minors work, who controls the payments, and whether parents or guardians can sell a minor's settlement payments.
Wrongful Death Structured Settlements: Your Rights and Options
Learn how wrongful death structured settlements work, their tax benefits under IRC 104(a)(2), and options for selling payments for a lump sum.
Small Estate Affidavit: How to Skip Probate for Smaller Estates
Learn what a small estate affidavit is, whether your estate qualifies, and how to file one. Includes state-by-state threshold table and step-by-step guide.
Annuity Surrender Charges: What It Costs to Get Out
Understand annuity surrender charges, typical schedules, the IRS 10% penalty, and free withdrawal options. Compare surrendering vs. selling your annuity payments.
Beneficiary Designations and Probate: What Heirs Must Know
Learn how beneficiary designations affect probate, which assets skip probate, common mistakes, and what happens when no beneficiary is named.
Can You Sell a Structured Settlement More Than Once?
Yes, you can sell structured settlement payments more than once. Learn how repeat sales work, what judges consider, and how to get the best deal on a second sale.
Why Customers Switch from JG Wentworth to Catalina Structured Funding
Real customers share why they left JG Wentworth for CSF, citing better rates, faster communication, and a no-pressure sales approach.
Cash Advances on Structured Settlements: What to Expect
CSF offers cash advances on pending structured settlement transactions so you can access funds before court approval. Here is how the process works.
How to Shop for the Best Structured Settlement Offer
Get the highest payout for your structured settlement by comparing offers from multiple companies. Real customer experiences show why shopping around matters.
What Can You Do with a Lump Sum? Real Stories from Structured Settlement Sellers
CSF customers have used their lump sums to buy homes, pay off debt, start businesses, fund education, and cover medical bills. Here are their real stories.
Repeat Customers: Why People Come Back to Catalina Structured Funding
Multiple CSF customers have completed two, three, and even four transactions. Here is why they keep coming back and what that says about the experience.
How Long Does It Take to Sell a Structured Settlement? Real Customer Timelines
CSF customers report timelines of 2 to 3 months from first call to funding. Here are real timelines from verified reviews, plus what affects speed.
What Happens at a Structured Settlement Court Hearing? Customers Share Their Experience
Wondering what to expect at your structured settlement court hearing? CSF customers share their real experiences, from preparation to approval.
No Pressure, No Aggressive Tactics: How CSF Treats Customers Differently
CSF customers consistently say they felt no pressure during the selling process. Here is what a no-pressure approach actually looks like, in their own words.
What Is a Structured Settlement? How It Works, Benefits, and Your Options
Learn what a structured settlement is, how payments work, and your options for selling. Covers types, tax benefits, and the court process.
What Is Probate Court? How It Works and What to Expect
Learn what probate court does, how the process works, what to expect at a hearing, and how long it takes. Get help with your probate advance today.
How to Cash Out an Annuity: Your Options, Costs, and Tax Implications
Learn three ways to cash out an annuity, understand surrender charges and tax penalties, and find out how selling to a buyer like CSF compares.
How Lottery Annuity Payments Work: Schedules, Taxes, and Selling Options
Understand how Powerball and Mega Millions annuity payments are structured, what happens if you die, tax treatment, and how to sell your payments.
Is Inheritance Marital Property? What Heirs Need to Know About Divorce
Is inheritance marital property in divorce? Learn when it becomes commingled and how to protect inherited assets in community property states.
Probate Court Explained: What Happens and How Long It Takes
Probate court validates wills, appoints executors, pays debts, and distributes assets. Here's what heirs need to know about the process and timeline.
Workers' Comp Settlement: How It Works and What to Do Next
A workers' comp settlement resolves an injured worker's claim as a lump sum or structured payments. Learn how it works and your options.
What Does "Next of Kin" Mean? A Clear Guide for Heirs and Families
Next of kin refers to your closest living relatives who inherit when there is no will and may make medical decisions. Legal order explained.
Annuity Due vs. Ordinary Annuity: The Difference That Affects Value
An annuity due pays at the start of each period; an ordinary annuity pays at the end. This timing difference affects your lump sum value.
Are Annuities FDIC Insured? What Actually Protects Your Payments
Annuities are not FDIC insured, but state guaranty associations protect up to $250,000. Learn what covers your annuity payments.
Withdrawing Money From an Annuity: Options, Penalties & Smarter Alternatives
Withdrawing from an annuity can cost 20-30% in surrender charges, IRS penalties, and taxes. Selling payments to CSF avoids the 10% IRS penalty.
What Happens at a Probate Court Hearing? A Clear Guide for Heirs
Probate court hearings are where the judge validates wills, appoints executors, and approves estate distributions. What heirs should know.
Pre-Settlement Funding: How It Works, Costs, and What to Know Before You Apply
Learn how pre-settlement funding works, what it costs, who qualifies, and how it compares to selling a structured settlement.
Is Inheritance Taxable? A Complete Guide to Inheritance Taxes in 2026
Find out if your inheritance is taxable, how federal and state inheritance taxes work, which states tax inheritances, and what heirs need to know.
How Long Does Probate Take? State-by-State Timelines for 2026
How long does probate take? Expect 9 to 24 months on average, but timelines vary by state and estate complexity. See what drives delays.
How to Avoid Probate: 7 Strategies That Actually Work
Want to know how to avoid probate? These seven proven strategies keep your assets out of court and save your heirs time and money.
Lottery Lump Sum vs. Annuity: Which Payout Option Is Right for You?
Lottery lump sum vs annuity, which payout is better? Compare taxes, investment potential, and long-term value to make the right choice.
Can a Debt Collector Take Your Structured Settlement? What You Need to Know
Can a structured settlement debt collector seize your payments? Learn about federal and state protections and what to do if a collector contacts you.
What Is Probate? A Plain-Language Guide for Heirs
Probate is the court-supervised process that settles a deceased person's estate. How it works, what it costs, and how long heirs wait.
Inheritance Advance vs. Loan: Which Is Right for You?
An inheritance advance and an inheritance loan work very differently. Compare credit requirements, repayment terms, risk, and costs side by side.
How Much Does Probate Cost? A Breakdown of Fees
Probate costs vary by state and estate size. In states with statutory fee schedules, total costs can reach 4% to 7% of the estate's value. See a full breakdown of court fees, attorney costs, appraisals, and other expenses.
Can You Get Your Inheritance Early? 4 Options Explained
Need to get your inheritance early? Compare four ways to access estate funds before probate closes, including advances, loans, and executor distributions.
Will vs. Trust: What Heirs Need to Know
Wills and trusts both transfer assets after death, but they work very differently in terms of probate, privacy, speed, and cost.
What Happens When Someone Dies Without a Will?
Dying without a will means state intestacy laws decide who inherits. Learn how the process works and why it often leads to delays and disputes.
Probate and Real Estate: What Heirs Should Expect
Probate real estate slows down the process and adds costs. Learn how property moves through probate and what options heirs have.
Annuity vs Lump Sum: Which Option Is Better for You?
Should you keep receiving annuity payments or take a lump sum? This guide breaks down the financial, tax, and lifestyle factors to help you decide.
Companies Like JG Wentworth: How to Compare Structured Settlement Buyers
Looking for companies like JG Wentworth? Compare top structured settlement buyers, what to look for, and how to get the best deal.
How to Get Cash for Your Structured Settlement: A Complete Guide
A step-by-step walkthrough of the structured settlement selling process, from getting quotes to court approval and receiving your lump sum.
Life Contingent Payments: What You Need to Know Before Selling
Life contingent structured settlement payments differ from guaranteed payments in key ways. Learn what affects their value when selling.
Are Structured Settlement Payments Taxable? What Sellers Need to Know
Learn about the tax treatment of structured settlement payments under IRC 104(a)(2), and what happens to that tax-free status when you sell for a lump sum.
How to Sell Annuity Payments for a Lump Sum
Ready to sell annuity payments for a lump sum? Learn which annuity types qualify, how court approval works, and how to get the best offer.
What to Expect at a Structured Settlement Court Hearing
A practical guide to structured settlement court hearings. Why court approval is required, what happens at the hearing, and how to prepare.
How Long Does It Take to Sell a Structured Settlement?
Learn how long it takes to sell a structured settlement, from first quote to funding. Most transactions take 30 to 60 days with court approval.
Can You Sell Part of Your Structured Settlement?
You can sell part of your structured settlement and keep the rest. Learn about partial sale options, how they work, and when they make sense.
How Much Is My Structured Settlement Worth?
Find out what your structured settlement is worth. Learn how discount rates, payment schedules, and market conditions affect your lump sum offer.
Probate Advances: How to Get Your Inheritance Early
Learn how probate advances work, who qualifies, and why an inheritance advance is not a loan. No monthly payments.