Death of Spouse Checklist | ChecklistComplete

Details for Death of Spouse Checklist

1. Notify family and friends

You will need to notify your family and friends of your spouse's death. You may want to do this in person, or you may choose to write a letter or send an email. You should also notify your spouse's employer and any other organizations that your spouse belonged to.

2. Contact the funeral home

You will need to contact a funeral home to take care of your spouse's funeral arrangements.

3. Stop mail and newspaper delivery

You will need to stop mail and newspaper delivery so that you can deal with the bills and other mail that will be coming in for your spouse.

4. Change locks

If you are moving out of the house, you will need to change the locks so that no one can enter without permission.

5. Cancel insurance policies

You will need to cancel any insurance policies that your spouse had. This includes life insurance, health insurance, and car insurance.

6. Transfer bank accounts and stocks

You will need to transfer any bank accounts and stocks that your spouse had into your name. You may also want to close any bank accounts that your spouse had.

7. Sell the house or rent it out

If you are moving out of the house, you will need to sell it or rent it out. This is because you will no longer be able to afford the mortgage or rent payments on your own.

8. Close credit card accounts

You will need to close any credit card accounts that your spouse had. This is because you will no longer be able to afford the monthly payments on your own.

9. Pay bills and debts owed by the deceased

You will need to pay any bills or debts that your spouse had outstanding at the time of death. This includes mortgage payments, rent payments, utility bills, and credit card bills.

10. File final income tax return

You will need to file a final income tax return for your deceased spouse. This is because the IRS will still need to be paid any taxes that are owed.

FAQ for Death of Spouse Checklist

What if I can't handle all of the tasks on the checklist?

If you are unable to handle all of the tasks on the checklist, you may want to consider hiring a lawyer or accountant to help you. They can help you with the paperwork and ensure that everything is done correctly.

What should I do with my spouse's belongings?

You will need to decide what to do with your spouse's belongings. You can either keep them, give them away, or sell them.

What if I need help?

If you need help, there are many resources available to you. You can contact your local chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), or you can call a grief counselor.

What is the deadline for filing my spouse's final income tax return?

The deadline for filing a final income tax return is six months after your spouse's death. However, if you are due a refund, you have three years from the date of death to file.

Can I get help with funeral expenses?

Yes, there are many resources available to help with funeral expenses. You can contact your local chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), or you can call a grief counselor.

In Summary

It can be very useful to have a checklist for death of spouse. This is because it can help you to remember all of the tasks that need to be done. However, there are some things to avoid. You should not try to do everything on your own, and you should not try to deal with the death of your spouse in a hurry. There are many resources available to help you, and you should take advantage of them.