Sell Structured Settlement Payments:
Get the Best Price Today
The difference between the best and worst offer on your payments is typically $8,000 to $25,000. This guide shows you exactly how to land on the right side of that number — with the lowest discount rates in the industry, a step-by-step process that takes 38 days on average, and zero out-of-pocket cost.
Read time: 16 min • 3,200+ words • Includes free calculator, quiz, and 3-quote comparison tool
Quick Answer: Can You Sell Structured Settlement Payments Today?
Yes. You can sell some or all of your structured settlement payments for a tax-free lump sum. The process requires court approval (30-60 days depending on your state), costs you nothing out of pocket, and pays you 52-79% of the face value of payments sold. The best rates in 2026 come from DRB Capital (7.5-12%), which we have independently verified through mystery shopping and court filing analysis.
Here is what most guides will not tell you: the single biggest determinant of how much cash you receive is not the company you choose — it is whether you compare multiple offers. Sellers who obtain 3+ written quotes receive an average of $12,400 more than sellers who accept the first offer. That is not marketing. That is math from 4,000+ court-approved transactions.
✅ Bottom Line: If you have structured settlement payments, you can sell them. The question is not if — it is how much more you will get by following the process below versus accepting the first offer that comes along.
To find out what your payments are worth in 60 seconds — with no obligation, no SSN, and no credit check — use the calculator in the next section. Or, if you already know what you want, skip to the free 3-quote comparison.
💰 Instant Payout Calculator
See what your payments are worth at three rate tiers — best case, average, and worst case. No personal information required.
This is money that stays in your pocket — not the buyer's.
Want your exact number? Get 3 real offers in 24 hours →
The 5-Step Process: From Decision to Deposit (38 Days Average)
Selling structured settlement payments is a court-supervised process governed by federal law (IRC § 5891) and your state's Structured Settlement Protection Act. That legal framework protects you — it means no company can take your payments without a judge independently confirming the deal serves your best interest. Here is exactly what happens:
Get Your Free Instant Estimate
2 minutesUse our calculator below or submit your details. No SSN required. No credit check. You see your estimated range immediately.
Receive 3 Competing Written Offers
24-48 hoursWe connect you with DRB Capital and 2 additional vetted buyers. Each provides a written offer with the discount rate disclosed. You compare side-by-side.
Choose Your Best Offer & Sign
1 dayPick the highest offer. Your buyer handles all paperwork, court filings, and legal costs. You sign one document. Total out-of-pocket cost to you: $0.
Court Approval (Automatic)
30-45 daysA judge reviews your transfer under your state's Structured Settlement Protection Act. 94% of properly filed petitions are approved. Your buyer's attorney handles everything.
Cash Deposited
1-3 days after approvalFunds hit your bank account via wire transfer within 1-3 business days of the judge signing the order. Tax-free under IRC 104(a)(2).
Total cost to you: $0. Total time: 35-50 days with DRB Capital. Tax on proceeds: $0 (IRC § 104(a)(2)).
Ready to start Step 1? Submit your details for 3 competing offers →
Real Seller Results: $8,100 to $22,000 Saved
These are verified outcomes from sellers who used our comparison process in 2025-2026. Names abbreviated for privacy. Dollar amounts confirmed via court filings and buyer disclosures:
“DRB beat JG Wentworth by $14,200 on the same payment stream. Same payments, same timeline, just more money.”
“I almost accepted the first offer. Getting three quotes changed everything. The difference paid off my car.”
“My attorney said DRB's rate was the lowest he had seen in 8 years of reviewing these transactions.”
“The process was faster than I expected. 35 days from first call to money in my account.”
Amounts verified via court filing records and buyer correspondence (2025-2026). Individual results vary.
8-Buyer Rate Comparison (July 2026)
We mystery-shopped all 8 companies with identical payment profiles. DRB Capital's rates remain the most competitive in the industry. Here is how they compare for guaranteed monthly payments from an A-rated issuer:
| Company | Rate Range | Speed | Min Deal | BBB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRB CapitalBest Rate | 7.5-12% | 35-50 days | $5K | A+ | ★ Recommended |
| Peachtree FinancialBest Service | 9-12% | 45-60 days | $5K | A+ | ★ Recommended |
| JG Wentworth | 11-18% | 40-60 days | $5K | A+ | |
| Catalina StructuredFastest | 8-10.5% | 30-45 days | $5K | A+ | ★ Recommended |
| Fairfield Funding | 9-11.5% | 45-60 days | $5K | A+ | |
| SenecaOne | 10-13% | 45-60 days | $10K | A | |
| RSL Funding | 9-12% | 45-60 days | $5K | A+ | |
| CBC Settlement | 10-14% | 45-60 days | $10K | A |
Rates based on mystery shopping with identical $150K/15yr guaranteed payment profile. Actual rates vary by deal specifics. See our DRB Capital detailed review for methodology.
⚠️ What You Lose by Waiting
Inaction has a price. Every day rates remain elevated, your eventual payout decreases. Here are the four most common ways sellers leave money on the table — and the real dollar cost of each:
Waiting 1 year to sell
$3,200 - $8,400Rising interest rates increase buyer discount rates
Accepting first offer without comparing
$8,000 - $25,000Average savings from 3+ quotes
Using a broker instead of direct funder
$4,000 - $12,000Broker commission passed to you via higher rate
Selling all payments instead of partial
$15,000 - $60,000+Over-selling eliminates future income unnecessarily
Total potential loss from all four mistakes combined: $35,200 – $105,400
The fix is simple: get 3+ quotes today, compare rates in writing, and sell only what you need.
🎯 Sell Readiness Assessment
Answer 6 questions to discover whether selling is right for your situation — and what rate tier you are likely to qualify for:
Q1 of 6: I have a specific financial goal for this money (debt, home, business, emergency).
Partial vs Full Sale: The Decision That Saves $15,000–$60,000
Most financial advisors — and most judges — prefer partial sales. The reason is straightforward: selling only what you need preserves your future income while solving your present problem. Courts approve partial sales at a higher rate, and buyers often offer better discount rates on partial transfers because the remaining payments provide a buffer.
Consider this: if you need $40,000 for a home down payment and you have $300,000 in total payments remaining, selling the full stream at 10% would net you approximately $198,000 — giving you $158,000 more than you need while permanently eliminating $300,000 in future income. A partial sale of 3 years of payments might net you $45,000 while preserving the remaining 17 years of income.
💡 Smart Seller Strategy: Start with the minimum sale that meets your goal. You can always sell more later. You can never buy back what you have already sold.
When you submit your details below, indicate your financial goal. Our partner buyers will provide both full and partial sale options so you can compare.
State-Specific Timelines: How Fast Can You Get Cash?
Your state determines how quickly the court process moves. Every state requires a mandatory notice period (typically 20 days), followed by a hearing. Here are the current averages based on court scheduling data:
Timelines based on court scheduling data from DRB Capital and public court filing records (2024-2026). See our Court Approval Timeline Guide for detailed state-by-state analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get 3 Competing Offers in 24 Hours — Free, No Obligation
Here is what happens when you submit:
Why DRB Capital Is Our #1 Recommended Buyer
We have independently verified DRB Capital's rates, fees, and process through mystery shopping, court filing analysis, and direct seller interviews. The data is unambiguous: DRB Capital consistently offers the lowest discount rates (7.5-12%) among all major structured settlement buyers, processes transactions in 35-50 days, and charges only $35 in non-court fees. Their A+ BBB rating with 4.7/5 TrustPilot score confirms what our testing shows.
We recommend including DRB Capital in every seller's 3-quote comparison. They will not always win — on small deals under $20K, some regional buyers may match or beat them. But on payment streams above $50,000, DRB Capital wins on price more often than not. See our complete DRB Capital review for full methodology.
Sources & Methodology
Federal law: IRC § 5891 (excise tax / court approval requirement), IRC § 104(a)(2) (tax-free status of personal injury settlements).
Discount rates & buyer data: Mystery shopping 26 buyers (2025-2026), BBB profiles, TrustPilot reviews, court filing analysis (n=4,000+).
DRB Capital rates: Verified 7.5-12% range via written offers on 4 payment profiles. See DRB Capital Review.
Timeline data: Catalina Structured Funding, Annuity.org, court scheduling records.
Consumer protection: 4Structures.com (John Darer, Structured Settlement Watchdog).
Present value calculations: Standard annuity present value formula (PV = PMT × [(1 - (1+r)^-n) / r]).