The Widow's Financial Checklist: What To Do Now, and What Can Wait
When you lose your spouse, that loss comes with a long list of financial tasks you've probably never had to think about before, at a time when things already feel extraordinarily difficult.
You'll need to track down accounts, claim benefits, and file more paperwork than you'd expect, all while completely overwhelmed. This financial planning checklist for widows follows the order things actually need to happen in: what to handle in the first few weeks, what to handle in the following months, and which decisions you can make later.
Here's what needs attention, and what can wait.
Financial Advisor for Widows: How to Find the Right Fit After Loss
Losing a spouse often means taking over financial decisions that used to belong to someone else - sometimes with little warning, and sometimes with very little background in how any of it works. If you're searching for a financial advisor for widows, you're looking for someone who can help you make those decisions well, at a pace that works for you, while you're grieving.
Here's what to look for, what to watch out for, and what a good first meeting looks like.
Scammers Are Targeting Widows After Loss. Here’s How To Protect Yourself.
You don’t need to hear from me that grief is complex. There’s not a right way to grieve, and it doesn’t show up in ways most people would have expected before living in it.
The “widow’s fire” – a sudden or intense desire for physical intimacy after the death of a partner – is another manifestation of grief. Griefspecialists.com puts it well: “physical intimacy is not separate from grief. For many couples, touch, closeness and connection are central parts of the relationship.” The body doesn’t simply switch that off when a relationship ends.
Unfortunately, it’s times when we’re most vulnerable that we’re most likely to be taken advantage of.
Health Insurance After Death of A Spouse: Your Options, Deadlines, and Next Steps
Lost your spouse's health coverage? Learn your COBRA, Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace aka Obamacare, CHIP, and Medicare options - and their deadlines.