As mentioned in my prior post, the difficulty of losing a significant other can fill one’s life with almost limitless sorrow. So, don’t face it alone. Reach out to a close friend and/or trusted family member for help. When doing so, share this checklist as it is meant to help with questions like: “What do I do next”? It is natural to feel confused, grief stricken, and uncertain about your next steps. But, just remember, a journey of a thousand steps begins with the very first one.

After coalescing your important documents (see prior post about Important Documents), you will need to handle the following.

Next Steps:

consider organ donation wishes (check driver’s license or advanced health care directive)
contact a funeral home (enlist the help of a pragmatic confidant to avoid overly elaborate funeral plans)
ask the funeral director for help in obtaining 10-15 death certificates
contact immediate family and those close to you about the loss
contact employers about your spouse’s passing (check with your spouse’s Human Resources Department about benefits and healthcare coverage continuation)
allow/assign close family and friends to grocery shop, answer the phone, and prepare food
have a trusted family member remain at home during the funeral (as burglars are known to read the obituaries)
contact an attorney to begin reviewing the will (have the attorney explain the probate process and any liability for outstanding debts)
prepare their obituary and post-funeral gathering plans
put a plan in place to handle household bills (e.g., mortgage, utilities, car loans, insurance premiums, etc.); consider automatic bill payment options, place necessary bills in your name, and print out a bills checklist (at least for the first few months)

The next post in the series called “A financial to-do list for the surviving spouse” will cover handling banks, creditors, and insurance. A burdensome next step, but a critical one. Please feel free to contact Intelligent Investing at www.mynmfp.com/new-clients if you have questions about “what to do next” after the loss of a significant other.