Safe to say, there are few things more difficult in life than losing your husband or wife \u2013 especially as a senior. It can feel as if the life you\u2019ve always known has been completely turned upside down. For example, you and your spouse might have been able to maintain your independence together. However, now, you\u2019re finding it difficult to manage on your own. Even for seniors in relatively good health, there are several tough adjustments to make, new tasks to learn and responsibilities that come with the death of a spouse.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u00a0<\/strong>What to do if your spouse dies without a will? <\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It\u2019s far more common than you\u2019d think. Some of the latest polling shows that about 51 per cent of Canadians <\/a>don\u2019t have a will in place. Dying without a will is known in legal circles as \u201cdying intestate\u201d \u2013 but the news isn\u2019t all bad. If there is a surviving spouse but no children, the surviving spouse typically inherits the entire estate<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Even if there are children, the spouse may inherit everything or the first $200,000 of assets with the remainder split equally among the family.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As far as your will is concerned, if you don\u2019t have one, it\u2019s important that you get one created. If you already have a will between you and your deceased spouse, your lawyer will need to create new, revised documents.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n One of the biggest questions is how long does grief last after the death of a spouse?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Unfortunately, there\u2019s no set timetable to feeling like yourself again. Everyone grieves in a different way and at his or her own pace. While grief and mourning can feel overwhelming for long while, know that it\u2019s not going to be your permanent state.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n But your ability to cope with grief depends on your own resolve and the support you receive from friends and family. They\u2019re going to be an essential part of your healthy recovery strategy after a major loss.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n What does that long-term strategy look like? Here are a few important things to keep in mind:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nComing up with a healthy recovery strategy after a loss \u2013 six tips<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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