Financial Tips You Need To Know When A Spouse Dies

Hello, this is Noel Dalmacio, your ultimate CPA at lowermytaxnow.

The death of your spouse is emotionally and financially devastating.
Making decisions of any kind is difficult when you are grieving, but having a plan to follow may help. Here are 6 financial tips you need to do:

• Wait to make major decisions. Put off selling your home, moving in with your grown children, giving everything away, liquidating your investments, or buying new financial products.
• Get expert help. Ask your attorney to explain the will and implement the estate settlement. Talk to your accountant about financial moves and necessary tax documents. Call on your insurance company to help with filing and collecting death benefits.
• Assemble paperwork. Documents you’ll need include your spouse’s birth certificate, social security card, insurance policies, loan and lease agreements, investment statements, mortgages and deeds, retirement plan information, credit cards statements, employment and partnership agreements, divorce agreements, funeral directives, safe deposit box information, tax returns, and the death certificate.
• Determine who must be paid, and when. You’ll need to notify creditors and continue paying mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and insurance premiums. Notify health insurance companies and the Social Security Administration, and cancel your spouse’s memberships and subscriptions.
• Alert credit reporting agencies. Request the addition of a “deceased notice” and a “do not issue credit” statement to the decedent’s file. Order credit reports, which will provide a complete record of your spouse’s open credit cards.
• Determine what payments are due to you, such as insurance proceeds, social security or veteran’s benefits, and pension payouts. File claims where needed.

So make sure you plan and implement these 6 financial tips.

Until then, this is Noel Dalmacio, your ultimate CPA at lowermytaxnow.