Life After Death: A Legal and Practical Guide for Surviving Spouses [Paperback]

Marilyn W. Mcwilliams (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1932779124 | ISBN-13: 978-1932779127 | Publication Date: October 1, 2005

The death of a spouse can shatter the life of the survivor. Unfortunately, during this time of grief, there are a myriad of legal and personal matters that require thought, time, and attention. Life After Death: A Legal and Practical Guide for Surviving Spouses offers surviving spouses a practical but compassionate guide to dealing with the legal and financial aspects of life on their own.

What information do you need to gather? When and how will assets be divided? Do you have enough money to live on? These are important questions that many will face in the weeks and months following a spouse’s death. Life After Death helps to make sense of the numerous complicated issues that can arise regarding finances, estate planning, taxes, and more.

But the loss of a spouse results in more than just handling wills, survivor benefits, and financial statements. There is also a human element that often gets lost while addressing the estate administration.

• Where will you go for emotional support?
• Will your relationship with your spouse’s family and friends change?
• How will you re-enter an active lifestyle?
• What about your career?

Life After Death helps you to explore the important emotional issues that are often overlooked.

Life After Death covers the entire spectrum of a very sensitive issue with compassion and care. It will help you make sense of complicated decisions, carefully handle your financial issues, and plan for your future.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

If you are faced with the death of your spouse, there are many important questions you must answer during an already difficult time. Should you sell your house? Will you be able to collect your spouse's Social Security? How long will it take to probate the estate?

Life After Death offers widowed persons a practical guide for dealing with the legal, financial, and social aspects of life in the aftermath of a spouse's death. Attorney Marilyn McWilliams not only addresses the key issues that should be a part of every couple's estate plan, but also details the steps to take in the event of a spouse's death including planning the funeral, handling probate and estate administration, reacclimating to social life, and making financial plans for the future.

This compassionate and straightforward book is designed to help surviving spouses make better plans, and better decisions, in the case of this life-changing event.

About the Author

Marilyn W. McWilliams is a partner with the law firm of Moye White, LLP. Concentrating primarily on estate planning and administration for estates of all sizes, she advises individuals, families, and closely held businesses in this complex arena. From creating revocable and irrevocable trusts, charitable trusts, residence trusts, and advising fiduciaries and trustees to acting as a trust administrator and incorporating life insurance, stock options, retirement programs, IRAs, 401(k) and profit sharing into estate plans, Marilyn’s guidance helps clients protect their heirs and closely held companies to ensure smooth succession. Marilyn’s expertise includes special knowledge regarding estate planning as it affects those with long-term disabilities—for example, how to ensure the ability to inherit without losing other benefits. In addition, Marilyn handles an array of business planning and transaction projects for both small and large businesses, including determining the proper entity and setting up the business, as well as tax planning and legal structure. Her work also extends to contracts, mergers and acquisitions, and the purchase and sale of assets. Marilyn holds degrees from the University of Colorado (B.A.) and the University of Denver (J.D).

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Product Details

• Paperback: 193 pages
• Publisher: Bradford Pub Co (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932779124
• ISBN-13: 978-1932779127
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,994,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Huge help during a difficult time, December 29, 2005

By 

Genevieve (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life After Death: A Legal and Practical Guide for Surviving Spouses (Paperback)

My grandfather recently passed away unexpectedly. He was the first one of my grandparents to go and my parents, aunts and uncles, and certainly my grandmother were a little lost. We were all a little dazed by the suddenness of it all and not really sure what to do first. About a month later I came across Life After Death at the Tattered Cover and there were so many helpful things like timelines for when you had to handle or file legal documents and what services an attorney or advisor can provide, investment help, and help for dealing with a changing budget. I only wish we would have found it a month sooner because there's a lot of stuff we could have used then.

I picked up the book for my dad because he was handling a lot of the legal stuff for my grandma, so it's really good for anyone who has to deal with these aspects after death.