FreeIndependent and free. We never buy settlements.
Know what your structured settlement, annuity or lottery prize is really worth.
Ask a question, check an offer, or estimate your payments. Plain answers about structured settlements, no sign-up.
$1,500 a month for 15 years
$270,000 promised
Worth today at a 11% discount rate
$270,000
Later payments are worth less today, so every offer is a discount. Between a 9% and a 15% rate, this seller would lose $38,678.
- Every sale needs a judge's approval
- We don't buy settlements
- Shared only with buyers you choose
- Free tools, no sign-up
Got an offer? See the rate they didn’t mention.
Buyers quote a lump sum, never a rate. Enter your payments and the offer, and the decoder works out the discount rate hiding inside it.
- Under 10%
- Strong. You're near the best buyers charge.
- 10% to 13%
- Typical. Competing quotes can still lower it.
- 14% and up
- Expensive. Compare before you sign.
Offer decoder
Nothing leaves your browserDiscount rate inside this offer
15.5%
Estimate for level monthly payments before fees. Real offers may include fees or uneven schedules.
How a sale works, start to finish
A court-supervised process built to protect you. Most sales take 45 to 90 days.
Step 1, Day 1
Get competing quotes
Share your payment details once. Licensed buyers send written offers.
Step 2, Days 2–5
Compare the real cost
Line offers up by discount rate and fees, not by the headline lump sum.
Step 3, Days 30–60
Court approval
A judge reviews the sale and approves it only if it's in your best interest.
Step 4, Days 33–65
Receive your cash
After the order is signed, the buyer wires your money within days.
The safeguard most sellers don’t know about
No sale is final until a judge says yes.
State transfer laws require a court to approve every structured settlement sale, and federal tax law penalizes buyers who skip that step. The judge reviews the deal and can turn it down if it isn’t in your best interest.
- Court order
- Required before any money moves.
- Full disclosure
- Rate, fees and net amount in writing.
- Your interest
- The judge weighs your needs, not the buyer's.
IRC §5891
A buyer who skips a qualified court order owes a 40% federal excise tax on the discount.
What buyers say on the phone, and what it means
None of these lines are lies, exactly. They just leave out the part that costs you. Tap one to see it.
Tools buyers would rather you didn’t have
All free, all private, no account needed.
Where are you right now?
The rules depend on where you live
Every state has its own protection act, court timeline and disclosure rules. Pick yours to see them.
Or start from your situation
Questions people ask first
Don’t see yours? Our assistant answers in plain words.
Ask your own questionNo. SettlementDecisions.com does not buy settlements. We provide free tools and guides so you can make an informed decision. We may earn a referral fee if you choose to work with a buyer through our platform, but this never affects our recommendations.
It uses the standard present-value formula for a payment stream, so it gives you a realistic range to negotiate from. Only written quotes from licensed buyers tell you exactly what you'd receive.
For physical injury settlements, the lump sum is generally tax-free under IRC 104(a)(2), the same as the payments. Punitive damages or lost-wage portions may be taxable. Check with a tax professional for your situation.
Usually 45 to 90 days from accepting an offer to receiving funds, including paperwork, the court filing, the hearing and the transfer. Timelines vary by state; our State Law Lookup shows yours.
No. Partial sales are common. You can sell a set number of payments, part of each payment, or a fixed dollar amount, and keep the rest.
Buyers apply a discount rate, often between 9% and 15%, which sets how much less than face value you receive. Getting competing quotes is the most reliable way to lower it.
As a rule of thumb, under 10% is strong, 10% to 13% is fair, and 14% or more is unfavorable. Your rate depends on your payment term, amount, the insurer and how many competing offers you get.
Yes. A judge can deny a sale that isn't in your best interest, for example when the discount rate is excessive or the purpose isn't clear. Competing offers and a clear plan for the money help.
Make buyers compete for your payments
Tell us about your payments once. Licensed buyers send written offers, and you decide whether to go ahead.