Is Taking an Advance a Smart Financial Move?
While “more money later” sounds better on paper, real-world variables often make “less money earlier” the mathematically and emotionally superior choice. If the cost of waiting—including compounding debt interest, probate attorney fees, market volatility, and psychological stress—exceeds the service fee of an inheritance advance, then accessing your funds today is the most efficient path. An advance allows you to lock in the current value of your share and eliminate the risks associated with the long probate process.
4 Times When Getting Money Sooner Wins:
- Urgent Liabilities: When you need to stop foreclosure, fix a work vehicle, or settle high-interest debt that is growing daily.
- Emotional Closure: When family conflict or the complexity of probate is causing unbearable stress or mental health strain.
- Market Risk: When the estate holds volatile assets (like stocks or real estate) that could drop in value during the 12-24 months of probate.
- Ongoing Estate Expenses: When you are personally covering mortgage payments or maintenance costs for estate property while waiting for court approval.
Should I take more money or less money? At first glance, the answer seems obvious. However, when dealing with the slow, expensive, and often unpredictable world of probate, the “straightforward” answer is rarely the best one. For many heirs, the smart move is to explore an inheritance advance—receiving a portion of their money today rather than waiting for a potentially larger check months or years from now.
Here are the four primary situations where the “cost of waiting” makes getting your money now the right choice:
1. Pressing Financial Need
Future money is of little help when you have an urgent bill today. Whether it’s an unexpected medical expense, a necessary home repair, or avoiding a financial crisis like bankruptcy, having immediate liquidity can prevent long-term damage to your credit and lifestyle. An advance provides a safety net when you need it most.
2. Emotional and Interpersonal Costs
The death of a loved one is hard enough; a protracted legal battle over their estate can be devastating. If probate is causing friction between siblings or if the complexity of the court process is a constant source of anxiety, “cashing out” a portion of your inheritance can provide the closure you need to move on with your life and preserve family relationships.
3. Managing Market Volatility
If the estate consists of stocks, bonds, or real estate, you are at the mercy of the market until the day the executor finally cuts the checks. If the market dips during that 18-month wait, your “more money later” could easily become “much less money later.” Taking an advance locks in a portion of your share at today’s fair market value.
4. Escaping Ongoing Estate Expenses
Estates aren’t free to maintain. Heirs often find themselves personally covering mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, or legal fees to keep the estate running while probate drags on. If these out-of-pocket expenses are creating a meaningful burden, an advance allows you to use your own inheritance to cover those costs without draining your personal savings.
The Bottom Line
If you can afford to wait and your personal finances are stable, patience is usually the best policy. However, if the costs of waiting—financial, emotional, or risk-based—are mounting, an inheritance advance is a helpful and strategic option to regain control of your financial future.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An advance is a private transaction between you and InheritNOW. You are only selling a portion of your specific slice of the inheritance pie. It has no effect on the other beneficiaries or the total value of the estate assets.
A loan requires monthly payments, credit checks, and personal liability. An inheritance advance is a non-recourse assignment of funds—there are no monthly payments, and you are not personally liable if the estate ends up with fewer assets than expected.
While probate can take over a year, an inheritance advance can usually be processed in as little as 24 to 48 hours once the necessary documentation is received. This provides the speed and certainty that the court system lacks.