Can I Get an Advance on My Settlement Check?

Yes — if your case has not yet settled, pre-settlement funding provides a cash advance secured by your pending claim. If a settlement has already been reached, post-settlement funding is a separate product for that stage.

If your case is still pending — no settlement has been agreed to — pre-settlement funding provides a cash advance against the expected settlement proceeds. You receive the advance immediately; repayment comes from the actual settlement when it is reached. This is the most common form of litigation funding for plaintiffs in active litigation.

If a settlement agreement has been reached but the check has not yet been issued or cleared, you may be in a position for post-settlement funding instead. Post-settlement funding is a short-term advance against a confirmed settlement that is awaiting payment processing, lien resolution, or court approval. The product is similar but the underwriting is simpler — liability and recovery amount are both known.

The key distinction is timing: pre-settlement funding is for plaintiffs whose cases have not yet resolved; post-settlement funding is for plaintiffs whose settlements are confirmed but delayed in disbursement. Both products are non-recourse in the sense that repayment comes from the settlement itself, but post-settlement funding carries less case risk because the recovery amount is already established.

To apply, contact Criterica Capital and indicate whether your case is pre- or post-settlement. Our underwriting team will review the appropriate materials — either the full case file for pre-settlement applications or the settlement agreement and disbursement timeline for post-settlement applications.

Source: ALFA Consumer Litigation Funding Code of Conduct. Post-settlement funding is available in most states where pre-settlement funding is also offered.

Need pre-settlement funding?