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.