Death Of A Spouse

Hi,
Nothing can prepare one for the death of one's spouse. This is the time to use the help offered by close friends and family. One immediate need is to create a folder of essential documents. If this folder is not already in place prior to the death, it is a good idea to ask a friend to help compile and organize it. Basic documents are:
-Death certificate (a few certified copies)
-Marriage certificate (May be obtained from courthouse)
-birth certificates of dependent children
-Insurance policies
-Certificate of Discharge from the military
-The deceased will and list of property
Initial contacts to be made:
-Social security
-Life insurance
-Employee, Veterans or Misc benefits
-If spouse was employed, check with Human Resources about any specific employer policies. For example, a surviving spouse might have Cobra benefits for a set period of time.
On Monday I will discuss how to deal with both immediate and long term financial concerns after the death of a spouse.
Have a good weekend!
Until then,
Alan