1. Make funeral arrangements.
This can include choosing a funeral home, selecting a casket or urn, planning the funeral service, and making burial or cremation arrangements.
2. Contact family members.
This may involve notifying immediate family members, extended family members, and close friends of the death.
3. Handle financial matters.
This can include canceling joint credit cards and bank accounts, transferring assets to beneficiaries, and dealing with any remaining debts.
4. Update your will and estate planning documents.
Updating your will and other estate planning documents to reflect your new marital status is an important step in protecting your interests.
5. Notify your spouse's employer of their death.
This is important for both practical and financial reasons. The employer will need to know about the death so that they can make appropriate arrangements, and you may be entitled to death benefits such as life insurance.
6. Cancel your spouse's health insurance.
If your spouse had health insurance through their employer, you will need to cancel the policy.
7. Close joint credit accounts.
You will need to close any joint credit accounts that you and your spouse had so that you are not responsible for the debt.
8. Change your name and address on all legal documents.
If you got married and changed your name, update your legal documents. If you moved locations, don't forget to update your address as well.
9. Update your beneficiary designations.
You will need to update the beneficiary designation on any life insurance policies, retirement accounts, or other financial accounts they were named as a beneficiary of if your spouse dies.
10. Take care of yourself emotionally and physically.
After the death of a spouse, it is crucial that you take care not only of your physical wellbeing but also your emotional state. This can be done by joining a support group, talking to a counselor, and getting regular exercise.