Emotional and Practical Survival
What is the most important thing to know as a surviving spouse?
Short answer
You have more time than you think for most decisions — and less than you think for a few specific ones (COBRA enrollment, Social Security application, the two-year window on home sale capital gains exclusion). Know which deadlines are real. Give yourself…
What this usually means
You have more time than you think for most decisions — and less than you think for a few specific ones (COBRA enrollment, Social Security application, the two-year window on home sale capital gains exclusion). Know which deadlines are real. Give yourself permission to be slow on everything else. The paperwork will still be there next week.
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# PART 2: FINANCIAL PREDATORS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION — 50 QUESTIONS (Questions 61–110)
These questions protect families from the people who prey on them in the days and weeks after a death. This content builds enormous trust.
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What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county phone numbers for coroner, vital records, and local offices.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.