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Working with Financial and Legal Advisors |
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twelve months of financial milestones
Your first priority is to take the time you need to grieve. Financial decisions, for the most part, should be postponed until you feel better prepared emotionally to cope with them. Most experts (and many survivors of suicide loss) recommend putting off making major changes or decisions in the first few months. They also recommend against immediately giving control of your finances to someone else, even to grown children or advisors you trust. You may choose to do that later, but first give yourself time to assess your situation and determine your needs and goals. However, doing nothing is not an option because there are certain legal requirements and deadlines that must be met for survivors to collect or qualify for certain financial benefits. The information in this section of this Web site is designed to help put your mind at ease about which financial issues you need to address in the first year following your loss and when you need to address them. Some of these issues may not apply in your situation. Most will apply if you lost a spouse; some will apply if you lost a child, parent, or other close relative.
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