Currents
December 2018
By: Martin Zevin, P.A.
What To Do Legally When Your Partner Dies
Losing your spouse, partner or significant other is
a very traumatic event. It is most important for your
physical and emotional health to give yourself time
for the grieving process.
Once you feel mentally and emotionally able
to do so, you should schedule an appointment with
an attorney to review all legal
documents.
You should bring your Will
and/or Revocable LivingTrust,
Deed to your home and any other
real estate, certified copy of the
death certificate and, if married,
date of your marriage. If you
have advanced care directives
such as a Living Will, Durable
Power of Attorney and Designa-
tion of Health Care Surrogate,
you should bring those as well.
If everything you owned was in
both names, it is not necessary to
probate the Will. However,
regarding your home, and any
other real estate, it is important to
“Clear the Title.” The lawyer will
prepare and have you sign a
“Continuous Marriage Affidavit,”
which is why you need the date of
your marriage. The Affidavit will
state that you were married on a
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