First 90 Days
The First 72 Hours: A Decision Map, Not a Paperwork Marathon
A calm triage plan for protecting access, recording deadlines, and separating urgent tasks from permanent financial decisions after a spouse dies.
Latest guidance
Estate
Before Moving Estate Assets, Build the Authority and Ownership Map
A source-led method for separating legal authority, account ownership, beneficiary transfers, estate cash, and records before assets are moved or distributed.
Home
After a Spouse Dies: Test Whether Keeping the Home Still Works
A practical housing decision file for confirming mortgage authority, successor status, carrying costs, cash reserves, and the evidence needed before keeping or selling.
Taxes
After a Spouse Dies: Build the Tax-Year Filing Map
A source-led roadmap for separating the final individual return, a possible estate return, filing status, refund authority, and the records each decision requires.
Life After Loss
Choosing a Financial Adviser After Loss: A Verification-First Interview
A practical process for checking registration, reading Form CRS, comparing fees and conflicts, protecting account access, and documenting an adviser decision after widowhood.
Money
Social Security Survivor Benefits: Prepare Before You Call
How to organize documents, compare claiming paths, and record the answers that matter before a Social Security survivor-benefit application.