Most importantly, make a plan.

Many couples don’t realize the importance of claiming decisions until it’s too late ...

When an IRA owner dies, surviving spouses suddenly inherit more than memories. They inherit a stack of decisions wrapped in IRS fine print.

In many instances, spouses execute what is referred to as reciprocal wills. What this means is that each spouse designates the other as the entire beneficiary or the primary beneficiary of their ...

To better understand their potential benefits and financial risks in retirement, both spouses should be aware of some benefits planning realities.

Losing a spouse is an emotionally jarring experience, often leaving the surviving partner adrift in a sea of grief and ...

It's of course very difficult to lose your spouse — and some survivors may also have to deal with the shock of higher taxes after their wife or husband dies. Stream Los Angeles News for free, 24/7, ...

Losing a spouse brings immense emotional weight and, often, unexpected financial decisions. For many surviving spouses, one of the most complicated and confusing tasks is deciding what to do with the ...

Debt collectors may pressure surviving spouses to pay debts they are not legally responsible for. It is important to understand which debts transfer to a surviving spouse, as laws vary by state.

Despite an intention to add a spouse or domestic partner to their Will, at times a decedent may neglect to do so prior to his/her death. Under such circumstances, however, a surviving spouse or ...

The portability of the lifetime estate and gift tax exemption amount between spouses was introduced in the 2010 tax law. But details of portability aren’t well-known, and misunderstandings can cost an ...

But amid that grief, the surviving spouse is often left making high-stakes financial decisions at the worst possible time. Income might drop overnight, yet the bills keep coming, and major financial ...