Frequently Asked Questions

The process typically takes 30–60 days from accepting an offer to receiving your lump sum. The exact timeline depends largely on your state's court scheduling, since every structured settlement sale requires judicial approval under the state's Structured Settlement Protection Act (SSPA). States with busier court dockets (such as California, New York, and Florida) may take closer to 60 days, while states with faster scheduling can sometimes complete hearings in 30–45 days. CSF handles all court filings, required notices, and legal paperwork on your behalf at no cost. In many cases, CSF can also arrange a cash advance while you wait for the court hearing, so you are not left without funds during the process. Learn more in our guide to the structured settlement selling timeline.

You are not required to hire your own attorney to complete the sale. CSF prepares all legal filings, court petitions, and required documentation as part of the transaction at no cost to you. That said, most states require that you be advised of your right to seek independent professional advice (IPA) from a licensed attorney, financial advisor, or accountant before the transaction is finalized. A small number of states require that you actually receive IPA, but in most cases it is your choice. CSF encourages you to consult with an independent advisor so you can make a fully informed decision. CSF's in-house legal team, four licensed attorneys, reviews every transaction to ensure compliance with your state's SSPA.

It depends on the origin of your structured settlement. If your payments stem from a personal physical injury or physical sickness lawsuit, both the periodic payments and any lump sum you receive from selling them are tax-free under IRC Section 104(a)(2). This is the most common scenario. However, if your settlement was for non-physical injuries (such as employment discrimination, emotional distress without physical harm, or punitive damages), the payments were likely taxable income to begin with, and the lump sum will be treated the same way. Workers' compensation settlements are also generally tax-free. CSF always recommends consulting a tax professional to confirm how your specific settlement is classified before proceeding with a sale. Read our guide to structured settlement tax implications for more detail.

Yes, and many customers choose this option. A partial sale lets you access cash now while preserving some of your future income. For example, you could sell the next five years of payments and keep everything after that, or sell 50% of each monthly payment while retaining the other half. You might also sell a specific dollar amount of payments to cover a particular expense (such as a down payment on a house or medical bills) and leave the rest untouched. CSF will walk you through multiple scenarios so you can see exactly how each option affects your lump sum and your remaining payment stream. There is no pressure to sell more than you need. Learn more about partial structured settlement sales.

The lump sum you receive depends on several factors: the total value and number of remaining payments, whether payments are guaranteed or life contingent, the issuing insurance company and any transfer fees they charge, and current market conditions including prevailing interest rates. The discount rate (which typically ranges from 9% to 18% in the structured settlement industry) is the single largest factor in determining your payout. A lower discount rate means more cash in your pocket. CSF maintains relationships with a nationwide network of financial partners, which allows us to shop your deal and secure the most competitive pricing available. Use our free structured settlement calculator for a quick estimate, then contact us for a personalized quote based on your actual payment details.

Yes. Every state requires court approval for structured settlement transfers under its Structured Settlement Protection Act (SSPA). This law exists to protect payees from unfavorable transactions. A judge must review the terms of the sale and determine that the transfer is in your best interest before it can proceed. CSF prepares all court filings, petitions, and required disclosures on your behalf and handles the entire hearing process at no cost to you. In most states, you will need to attend a brief court hearing (typically lasting 15 to 45 minutes) where the judge confirms the transfer. Many states allow telephonic or virtual appearances. Read more about what to expect at a structured settlement court hearing.

Absolutely. You have full control over how much you sell. Common partial sale structures include selling a fixed number of future payments (for example, the next 36 monthly payments), selling payments from a defined date range, or selling a percentage of each payment while keeping the remainder. Partial sales are popular among customers who need cash for a specific purpose (such as paying off debt, funding education, or covering an emergency expense) without giving up their entire future income stream. CSF will present you with multiple options so you can choose the structure that best fits your financial goals. Visit our complete guide to selling your structured settlement for a detailed walkthrough.

Yes. CSF offers cash advances to customers who need funds before the court approval process is complete. Once you sign your paperwork, you may be eligible for an advance to cover immediate expenses. The advance amount is applied against your final payout. Customers frequently tell us that having access to funds early made a significant difference while they waited for court approval. Read more about how cash advances work.

We encourage you to compare quotes. Many of our customers tell us they received higher offers from CSF after getting quotes from multiple competitors. Getting a free quote from us takes just a few minutes, and there is no obligation. If you already have quotes from other companies, share them with your CSF representative so we can show you how our offer compares. Learn more about how to shop for the best offer.

Every structured settlement sale requires court approval to protect your interests. CSF's legal team prepares all the documentation for the hearing, and in most cases, you will attend a brief hearing (often by phone or video). Customers report that the hearings are straightforward when the paperwork is properly prepared. After the judge approves the transfer, funding typically arrives within 2 to 3 weeks. Read our guide on what to expect at a structured settlement court hearing.

Yes. If you have remaining future payments, you can sell additional portions of your structured settlement in separate transactions. Each sale goes through the same court approval process. Several of our customers have completed multiple transactions with us over the years, returning because they were satisfied with the outcome and pricing of their previous sale. Learn more about selling your structured settlement more than once.

Yes. Many customers sell structured settlement payments to fund a home purchase. The process typically takes 2 to 3 months from your first call to receiving your funds. If you are considering a home purchase, getting a free quote can help you understand how much cash you could access from your future payments.

Most structured settlement transactions take 2 to 3 months from your first call to receiving your funds. The timeline depends on your state's court requirements and how quickly you provide the necessary paperwork. After court approval, funding typically arrives within 2 to 3 weeks. Many of our customers report completing the entire process in about 2 months when they have their documents ready. Learn more in our guide to the selling timeline.

CSF purchases payments from virtually all types of annuities, including fixed annuities, variable annuities, indexed annuities, immediate annuities, and deferred annuities. Whether your annuity was purchased directly from an insurance company, inherited from a family member, or received as part of a legal settlement, CSF can evaluate it and provide a quote. The process differs depending on the type: some annuity sales require court approval (similar to structured settlements), while others can be completed through a direct assignment with the insurance company, which is faster. Inherited annuities often have the simplest transfer process. CSF's team will explain which process applies to your specific annuity and what timeline to expect. Visit our annuities overview to learn more.

The amount we quote is the amount you receive. All administrative expenses (including court filing costs, insurance company transfer costs, and legal documentation costs) are paid by CSF. The lump sum amount quoted in your written offer is the exact amount you receive at funding. When you sell future payments for a present-day lump sum, a discount rate is applied to account for the time value of money. This is the cost of the transaction. CSF provides a written disclosure statement with every offer, showing the discount rate, the total face value of payments being sold, and the net lump sum you will receive. This transparency ensures you can make an informed decision and compare offers from other companies on equal terms.

Your annuity's lump sum value is based on its present value, the concept that money received in the future is worth less than money in hand today. The calculation factors in the total remaining payments, how far into the future those payments extend, and the discount rate applied by the buyer. Annuities with shorter remaining terms, larger payment amounts, and strong insurance company ratings typically command higher lump sums relative to their face value. Market interest rates also play a role: when rates are higher, present values tend to be lower. CSF provides free, no-obligation quotes so you can see your actual lump sum figure without commitment. Visit our annuities page to get started.

Yes, CSF can purchase variable annuity payments. Variable annuities are more complex than fixed annuities because the payment amounts fluctuate based on the performance of the underlying investment portfolio. This variability introduces additional risk for the buyer, which can affect the discount rate and the lump sum offered. However, CSF has extensive experience evaluating variable annuity contracts and can provide a competitive quote based on historical performance data, projected payment ranges, and the specific terms of your contract. If your variable annuity has a guaranteed minimum payment floor, that feature can improve the offer since it reduces the buyer’s risk. Contact CSF to discuss your specific variable annuity situation.

Selling an annuity through a reputable, attorney-led company like CSF involves a well-defined legal process. Every transaction requires court review to ensure the sale is in your best interest. CSF's legal team handles the paperwork and walks you through every step. Customers frequently tell us they felt safe and informed throughout the process. Visit our annuities page to learn more and get a free quote.

Yes. If you chose the annuity option when you won the lottery, you can sell some or all of your remaining annual payments for a lump sum. Most states allow lottery annuity payment sales, though the specific rules and court approval requirements vary by state. The process is similar to selling a structured settlement: CSF evaluates your remaining payment stream, provides a written offer with full disclosure, and handles all legal filings and court paperwork on your behalf at no cost. You can sell all of your remaining payments or just a portion, for example, selling the next 10 years of payments while keeping the rest. CSF has extensive experience purchasing lottery annuity payments nationwide. Visit our lottery winnings page to learn more and get a free quote.

When you win a major lottery jackpot, you typically choose between two payout options. The annuity pays the full advertised jackpot amount as a series of graduated annual payments over 29 years (30 total payments for Powerball and Mega Millions, each increasing by 5% over the prior year). The lump sum (also called the cash option) pays a smaller amount immediately, usually 50% to 65% of the advertised jackpot, depending on current interest rates. The lump sum is the actual cash the lottery has on hand; the larger advertised number represents the total of all future annuity payments. Both options are subject to federal and state income taxes, which can reduce your take-home amount by 37% to 50% depending on your state. See our in-depth lump sum vs annuity comparison for a full breakdown.

No. A probate advance is fundamentally different from a loan. It is a purchase of your interest in a pending estate. CSF buys a portion of your expected inheritance at a discount and collects directly from the estate distribution when probate closes. Because it is not a loan, there are no monthly payments, no interest charges that compound over time, and no impact on your credit score. Most importantly, probate advances are non-recourse: if the estate ultimately distributes less than expected, CSF absorbs the loss. You are never asked to cover the difference. This structure protects you from downside risk while giving you access to your inheritance when you need it. Learn more on our probate advances page.

No. Approval for a probate advance is based primarily on the estate itself: its assets, its liabilities, the expected timeline to close, and your legal right to a share of the distribution. Even if you have a bankruptcy, foreclosure, collections, or judgments on your record, you can still qualify. This is because the advance is repaid from the estate, not from you personally. The estate’s value and your documented share are the primary underwriting factors. CSF reviews estate documents with your probate attorney to confirm eligibility, typically within one to two business days.

Most probate advances are funded within 3 to 5 business days from the time CSF receives the necessary estate documents. The process is straightforward: you provide basic information about the estate, CSF reviews the documents with your probate attorney, and once approved, funds are wired directly to your bank account. Unlike structured settlement or lottery sales, probate advances do not require court approval for the advance itself, which is why the timeline is significantly faster. In urgent situations, CSF can sometimes expedite funding to as few as 2 business days. The speed depends primarily on how quickly estate documents can be verified with the probate attorney. Visit our probate advances page to get started.

Probate advances from CSF are non-recourse, which means you are not personally responsible if the estate ultimately distributes less than anticipated. If debts, taxes, legal fees, or other claims reduce the estate’s value below what was originally projected, CSF absorbs the shortfall, not you. You will never be asked to repay any portion of the advance out of your own pocket. This is one of the key advantages of a probate advance over a traditional loan: the risk falls on CSF, not on the heir. Before funding, CSF conducts a thorough review of the estate’s assets and liabilities to assess risk, but the non-recourse protection remains in place regardless.

In many cases, yes. CSF evaluates contested estates on a case-by-case basis. If the contested portion of the estate is separate from your share (for example, if only one asset or one heir’s share is in dispute while yours is not), CSF may be able to advance funds against the uncontested portion of your inheritance. The key factors CSF considers include the nature of the contest, the strength of your claim, the overall estate value, and whether a resolution timeline is foreseeable. Even in contested situations, CSF works with your probate attorney to determine whether an advance is feasible and what amount can be safely funded.

Yes. Catalina Structured Funding operates nationwide. CSF has experience with the specific structured settlement protection acts, lottery payment transfer laws, and probate regulations in every jurisdiction. Each state has its own rules regarding court approval requirements, independent professional advice, notice periods, and transfer procedures. CSF's in-house legal team is familiar with the nuances of each state's laws and handles all state-specific filings and compliance requirements on your behalf. Whether you are in California, New York, Texas, Florida, or any other state, CSF can assist with your transaction. View our state-by-state structured settlement pages for details on your state's specific laws.

No. CSF does not use high-pressure sales tactics. When you contact us, your representative will explain your options, answer your questions, and give you the time you need to make a decision. If selling your settlement is not right for your situation, we will tell you. Our customers consistently mention our no-pressure approach as a reason they chose us over competitors.

CSF is a mid-size, attorney-led firm that handles every transaction with a dedicated representative. Unlike larger companies where you may struggle to reach someone by phone, our customers work with the same person from quote to funding. Several of our customers came to us after experiences with JG Wentworth and other large companies, citing better communication, higher offers, and a more personal approach. Read more about why customers switch from JG Wentworth to CSF.

When your CSF representative provides a quote, that number is the amount deposited into your account after court approval. All costs are already factored into the discount rate. You never pay out of pocket, and there are no surprises between the quote and the payout. Our customers regularly confirm that they received exactly what they were quoted, or more.