The first 90 days after losing a spouse
There is no right pace for this. This isn't a to-do list to finish — it's a map of what's out there, so nothing important gets lost while you're carrying too much. Take the pieces that apply to you and leave the rest.
What the checklist covers
Losing a spouse comes with a hundred practical tasks no one hands you a list for — and they arrive in the weeks when you have the least room to think about them. This free one-page checklist sorts them by what genuinely can't wait, what to handle in the first few weeks, and what can safely wait for later.
- The first two weeks — the handful of things that truly can't wait (and the irreversible steps to not rush).
- Money and benefits — which Social Security and pension calls to make, the $255 death payment, life insurance, and the income that stops or changes.
- Accounts and documents — retitling, beneficiaries, taxes, and your own estate paperwork, without re-hunting the same documents each time.
Get the free First 90 Days checklist
Tell us where to send it and we'll email you the free First 90 Days After Losing a Spouse checklist — the handful of things that can't wait, the Social Security and benefits calls to make, and what can safely wait for later.
Almost there — check your inbox.
We just sent a confirmation email. Click the link inside and your free download lands right after. (If you don't see it, check spam or promotions.)
Answers to the questions that come up first
When you're ready, these plain-language guides walk through the Social Security decisions that matter most — including how much a survivor benefit actually pays, and the claiming order that has cost widows thousands.
- What happens to Social Security when a spouse dies
- Survivor benefits: how much you get and how to claim
- If you were divorced: benefits on a former spouse's record
- Which Social Security benefit should you claim, and when
When you want the whole playbook
When you're ready to make the decision — not just read about it — this is the book written for exactly this moment. It covers the claiming order the Social Security office won't map for you, the survivor “switch” that can be worth six figures, and how to verify SSA's number before you accept it.
Social Security for Widows and Divorced Women
The plain-English playbook for widows and divorced women: the survivor “switch” worth six figures, exactly what you're entitled to and when, the divorced-spouse rules, how to verify SSA's number, what gets taxed, and a one-page decision framework — plus five fill-in worksheets.
View detailsThis is general information to help you get organized, not financial, legal, or tax advice. For your situation, confirm with the Social Security Administration, your tax preparer, and the institutions involved.