What in the World Do I Do Now? Top 10 To-Do’s after the Death of a Spouse

TORONTO - March 5, 2014 - PRLog -- The passing of a loved one can be an overwhelming time. While everyone wants to help with offers of a casserole or a sympathetic ear, recent studies show that during the first year after a spouse has passed away one of the most important needs would be to have a clear head.  Studies have shown that a widow(er)s may find themselves anywhere on a spectrum from "frozen" and unable to make decisions to "frantic" with a sudden desire to make sweeping life changes. Many widow(er)s don’t realize they are on this spectrum, which is why is it critical to ensure you are not “going it alone”, especially when making financial decisions.

Author and Speaker Jane Blaufus knows all too well the mind-numbing grief, physical pain and confusion that can overtake a widows life, making even simple decision seem overwhelming.  Chronicled in her highly acclaimed book WITH THE [STROKE] OF A PEN®, Claim your life, despite Jane’s years working in the financial and insurance industries and her own astute planning, she was unprepared for the emotional tsunami that took over her life, and crippled her normally solid decision-making abilities.

To help sort through what’s most important, here are Jane’s Top 10 list of Priorities in the days and weeks following the passing of a spouse.

1.       Accept Help from those you trust. The first people you need to reach out to inform are your family.  If you do not have anyone in close proximity then reach out to friends.  They can take a huge weight off your shoulders by helping to get the word out about your loss. This is not something I would suggest you take on by yourself.

2.       Contact the executor of the will or estate.  In the event of a death, if the deceased left a will and there is an appointed executor of the will or estate (by either the deceased or a court) contact them immediately to carry out the instructions contained in the document.

3.       Tell your employer and benefits manager. The employer of your loved one (or business associates) should be notified immediately in the event of a death.  There may be ongoing benefits that you or the deceased’s estate may be entitled to receive.

4.       Contact your life insurance/financial advisor. They can contact the appropriate companies immediately to get paperwork started so you can receive insurance proceeds that may be payable to you or the estate.  To determine if your loved one held any other insurance policies that you might not be aware of you can contact the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association and request a policy search under the name of the deceased. www.clhia.ca

5.       Contact CRA. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) must be notified immediately and for anyone residing in Quebec, Revenu Quebec must be notified.

6.       Don’t forget CPP and QPP. If the deceased was receiving CPP or QPP benefits then their offices must be notified so they can discontinue paying benefits and begin paying survivor benefits (which must be applied for), if applicable.  CPP - www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/home.shtml.   QPP - www.rrq.gouv.qc.ca/fr/

7.       Banks, investment and credit card companies.  All of these institutions will need to be contacted and notified of the death for the assessment of all monies and investments, along with any debts that need to be settled.

8.       Provincial Ministry of Transport.  To transfer ownership of a vehicle, contact your auto insurance company to arrange for a new insurance policy, or to cancel the current policy as applicable.

9.       Do Contact your Lawyer. They are worth every penny when there may be any kind of dispute

10.   Do it one time. Ask your funeral director for a minimum of fifteen copies of the death certificate; I had to go back for more.

Lastly Jane always recommended that you take time throughout your lives to review wishes and get a will, attend to paperwork, and file important documents. You can help to ease the burden by having your affairs in order before something happens. This is the greatest gift you can give yourself and your loved ones in a time of need.  Says Jane, “We have an obligation to ourselves and to those we love to leave this world in an organized manner”.   You can watch Jane’s recent guest appearance on the subject of widowhood and planning on a special episode of BNN’s Money Talk (http://www.bnn.ca/Shows/Money-Talk.aspx).

To book Jane for an interview or to provide commentary on financial topics, please contact:

Rania Walker

Phone: 416-258-8953

rania@sparqstreet.com

@raniaspeaks

About Jane:

Jane Blaufus is an Author, Professional Speaker and Personal Finance Coach.  Her book, WITH THE [STROKE] OF A PEN®, Claim your life shares her personal story, struggles and lessons learned following the unexpected death of her first husband. She has been featured on BNN Money Talk, CTV National News Channel, CBC’s Lang and O’Leary Exchange, CHCH Morning Live, CFRB NewsTalk 1010, Zoomer Radio and CTV News at Noon. She is a Huff Post Contributor and GlobalNews.ca’s Financial/Insurance Community Blogger Expert.  Jane has just released a comprehensive planning binder as a companion piece to her book.   www.janeblaufus.com      @janeblaufus       facebook.com/jeblaufus