Bad credit is not a disqualifier
Can I get a probate advance with bad credit?
Yes. A probate cash advance doesn't use credit scores. Approvals are based on the estate — its assets, liabilities, probate timeline, and your verified share — not your FICO, employment, or income. Heirs with recent bankruptcy, active collections, judgments, charge-offs, or no credit history at all routinely qualify. No credit report is pulled, and the advance is never reported to credit bureaus.
$0
Impact on your credit score
No
FICO score requirement
No
Credit report pulled
Why credit doesn't enter the equation
Bad credit blocks people from loans because lenders are measuring whether the borrower will repay. A probate advance measures something completely different — whether the estate will pay the funder at distribution. Four structural reasons make credit irrelevant:
A probate advance is not a loan
A loan depends on the borrower's ability and willingness to repay — that's what credit scores measure. A probate advance is a purchase of a portion of your future inheritance. The funder buys an assigned share of what you'll receive from the estate. Personal repayment behavior is irrelevant because there are no monthly payments and no personal repayment obligation.
Repayment comes from the estate, not you
When probate closes, the funder collects its agreed share directly from your distribution. The estate pays, not you personally. If you had a 400 FICO and the estate paid on time, the funder is made whole — no checks, no payments, no collection calls.
Non-recourse = no personal liability
If the estate pays less than expected, the funder absorbs the shortfall. You are not on the hook. This is the opposite of how consumer loans work, which is why credit doesn't enter the equation.
Underwriting focuses on the estate
Instead of pulling credit reports, probate advance underwriters evaluate estate assets, liabilities, timeline, court posture, document quality, and your verified beneficiary share. The underwriting question is: 'Will the estate pay us at distribution?' not 'Will this heir pay us back?'
What actually matters for approval
Five estate-level factors drive probate advance decisions. None of them is personal credit.
The estate is solvent
The estate must have enough assets — after debts, taxes, and expenses — to pay the assigned distribution. Small insolvent estates don't qualify regardless of anyone's credit.
Probate is opened and in good standing
A case must be filed in the proper court, a personal representative appointed, and the matter progressing. If probate hasn't started, we can often help you understand the steps — but funding typically requires at least a filed petition.
Your beneficiary share is verifiable
We need to confirm your legal share through the will, the appointment order, or intestacy law. Disputed shares (contested wills, unclear intestacy) slow underwriting or reduce the advance amount.
No funder pre-existing lien on your share
If you've previously assigned your share to another advance company or creditor, that prior assignment must be resolved. This is a rare issue but a real one.
Cooperative executor and estate counsel
We notify the executor and the estate's attorney so the eventual distribution is routed correctly. Estates where the executor is hostile to beneficiaries or actively obstructing the case can be harder to fund.
Bad credit, no credit — we still want to hear from you.
Our review is based on the estate, not your credit report. If you have an expected inheritance through probate, you may qualify for funds in as little as 48 hours.
- No credit check, no score minimum
- Bankruptcy, collections, judgments — all OK
- No monthly payments, ever
- Non-recourse: you owe nothing if the estate falls short
Free written review
Takes less than 60 seconds. No credit pull.
Specific credit situations, specific answers
Six of the most common concerns heirs raise — with direct answers.
Recent bankruptcy (Chapter 7 or 13)
Eligible. Bankruptcy doesn't affect a probate advance because the advance isn't debt. If your inheritance wasn't part of your bankruptcy estate (most aren't if the decedent died after discharge), you can advance against it without bankruptcy court involvement. If the decedent died before or during your bankruptcy, the trustee may have a claim — check with your bankruptcy attorney first.
Active collections and judgments
Eligible. Creditors with judgments against you cannot block a probate advance or attach the funds, because the advance isn't a loan and the cash goes to you, not through a lender's trust. Some judgment creditors may later pursue the cash as an asset of yours — that's a collections matter, separate from the advance.
Charge-offs and missed payments
Eligible. No credit report is pulled, so these are invisible to underwriting. Approval depends entirely on the estate and your verified share.
No credit history at all
Eligible. Young heirs, recent immigrants, and people who pay cash for everything often have no credit file. That's neither a positive nor a negative — it's simply irrelevant to probate advance underwriting.
Tax liens (IRS or state)
Eligible in most cases. Personal tax liens don't affect eligibility, though the funds you receive could be subject to collection once deposited. Tax liens on the decedent's estate are different — those affect what the estate can distribute, which indirectly affects the advance.
Foreclosure, eviction, past repossessions
Eligible. None of these are visible to underwriting. Many heirs seeking a probate advance are in exactly this situation — the advance is the tool that helps avoid the next crisis.
Frequently asked questions
Will you pull my credit report?
No. 48 Hour Probate does not pull consumer credit reports, does not check FICO scores, and does not report the advance to any credit bureau. A probate advance is a purchase of your future inheritance, not a loan, so credit is not part of the underwriting process.
What's the minimum credit score to qualify?
There is no minimum credit score because credit is not reviewed. Approvals are based on the estate's assets and liabilities, the estate's probate timeline, the quality of the documents, and your verified beneficiary share. Heirs with any credit score — including no score at all — can qualify.
Can I get an advance if I recently filed bankruptcy?
Usually yes, but it depends on when the inheritance vests relative to your bankruptcy. If the decedent died more than 180 days after your bankruptcy filing (Chapter 7) or after your discharge date (Chapter 13), the inheritance is generally your property, and the advance proceeds naturally. If the decedent died before or within 180 days of your Chapter 7 filing, the trustee may have a claim to the inheritance — check with your bankruptcy attorney first.
What if I have active wage garnishment?
Wage garnishments affect your paycheck, not an inheritance distribution or a probate advance. Most garnishments cannot reach an advance because the funds come from the sale of your future inheritance, not wages or employment income. That said, large judgment creditors may have other collection tools; consult your attorney if you have a specific concern.
Do judgment creditors need to be paid first?
Not by the advance company. Judgment creditors are your personal creditors; the advance company is buying an asset from you. However, once funds are in your bank account, they may be subject to collection like any other asset. Many heirs use a portion of their advance to settle judgments directly, which is often a smart application of the funds.
Can I qualify with no income or no job?
Yes. Employment and income are not underwriting criteria. The estate is the source of repayment, not your paycheck. This is why advances are especially helpful for retirees, stay-at-home parents, and people between jobs — groups traditional lenders rarely approve.
Will getting an advance hurt my credit?
No. The advance is not reported to credit bureaus, does not create a tradeline on your credit file, and does not affect your score. Because it's a purchase and not a loan, there's no debt to report.
I've been denied by other lenders. Will you really approve me?
If the estate qualifies and your share is verifiable, yes. We approve many heirs who have been declined by banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Their qualification standards are designed for personal credit; ours are designed for probate estates. Different criteria, different outcomes.
Questions? Call (800) 701-2949.
Sources and references
- Cornell Legal Information Institute (Current). Non-recourse loan (Wex Legal Dictionary)
- Cornell Legal Information Institute (Current). Factoring (Wex Legal Dictionary)
- Cornell Legal Information Institute (Current). 11 U.S.C. § 541(a)(5) — Inheritance in Bankruptcy Estate
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2024). What is a credit report?.