First Week As A Surviving Spouse
What if everything was in their name?
Short answer
This is a common and stressful situation. Start with the death certificate and whatever documents you can find. Bring those to a probate attorney — even a one-hour consultation will map out your specific situation. In California, the Spousal Property Petition is…
What this usually means
This is a common and stressful situation. Start with the death certificate and whatever documents you can find. Bring those to a probate attorney — even a one-hour consultation will map out your specific situation. In California, the Spousal Property Petition is a relatively fast court process that can confirm your ownership of community property without full probate. Do not assume you have to go through full probate just because assets were in their name.
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.