If you have suffered the loss of your life partner, my heart goes out to you: few things in this world are quite as devastating. As an Newport Beach probate lawyer, I know grief can debilitate, and the ‘to-do' list in the immediate aftermath can seem impossible to manage. 

Please understand: you need to give yourself a recovery period after the passing of your partner before making important decisions, particularly financial decisions. You're emotionally and mentally exhausted, and you're used to input from someone who's no longer there. And unfortunately, there may be people out there looking to capitalize on your fragile state.

When you've had enough time, consider seeking professional help with your decisions, such as a financial advisor, attorney, accountant, or even just a friend or family member who understands finances.

To start the estate administration process, you'll need several financial documents in order, including but not limited to: Social Security numbers, birth and marriage certificates, wills, titles to vehicles, company benefit booklets, power of attorney documentation, bank and brokerage account statements, military discharge papers, and insurance policies. You also need any bills or statements that reflect debt or liabilities, such as tax bills, mortgages, utilities, car payments, insurance premiums, and credit cards.

I recommend ordering between ten and twenty copies of your partner's death certificate. You'll need them for a variety of tasks, and it makes it easier to just have a number on hand.

The process to close out your loved one's estate will depend on what planning they had in place at the time of their death. Even if they had a will and named you Executor, you still have to go through the Orange County probate process with the local courts to finalize their affairs. If your partner had a Living Trust, you may still end up dealing with probate if any assets were overlooked and left out.

Our team here at Katzen Law is here to help you navigate all of these "to dos" and next steps. Please know that we are only a phone call away to answer any questions you have in the days and weeks ahead. Do not hesitate to contact us at 714-374-2244 if we can assist you in any way. 

Thank you for reading out latest blog post. We would love to invite you to the 2022 Orange County Buddy Walk Celebration! Join us Sunday, November 6, from 11AM - 3PM at the Santa Ana Zoo (Private Venue!). For more information and registration click here. See you there!