Ask the Experts

Our experts answer questions about the death of a spouse, stopping pre-recorded telemarketing calls and parents' life insurance policies.

Q. What should one do immediately following the death of a spouse?

A. The first steps as a newly widowed person can seem frightfully difficult. Have family members and trusted friends help you with the following list of tasks:

• Make funeral or memorial service arrangements.

• Find deeds, bankbooks, account statements, stock certificates and insurance policies.

• Locate a marriage certificate, birth certificate, military discharge papers, Social Security card and tax forms. These are needed for Social Security, life insurance and veteran’s benefits.

• Find out from your local Social Security office if you are eligible for new benefits.

• Ask your bank to release joint account funds to you.

• Get certified copies of the death certificate.

• Notify your spouse’s insurance companies of his or her death.

• Write to your spouse’s employer, union and other professional organizations with which he or she was affiliated. Ask about any insurance policies, 401(k), pensions or company stock benefits.

• Advise all creditors in writing. If there were loans, find out if they are insured.

• Consult a lawyer if you feel it is necessary.

Q. I've been getting phone calls that are recorded messages about cleaning services and credit cards. They ask that I punch in a number to continue. The recordings do not give the company names, and when I dial *69, it says the phone numbers are unlisted. How do I stop them?

A. You could install an answering machine and caller identification so you can screen out calls like this. If there's no number displayed or a number you don't recognize, don't answer the phone. You then can listen to the message when and if you want to. And just hang up when you find you're listening to a recording. That's wiser and safer than following along with the recorded commands. Complaints about pre-recorded messages or callers that block the number from which they’re calling should go to the Federal Communications Commission. Use the complaint form at www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints_tcpa.html or call the FCC at 888-225-5322 (888-CALL-FCC).  You may also want to sign up with the National Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov to block telemarketers’ calls.

Q. My mother passed away four years ago and my father recently passed away. We have certificates of paid-up life insurance policies for both, but when I called the insurance company, I was told the policies don't exist. The certificates indicate the policies were paid in full in 1959 and 1960. What do I do?

A. Since you didn't get satisfaction from your phone call, take the next step and write to the insurance company. Send copies of the certificates and make a written claim for payment on those policies. If that fails, ask for a written explanation of why you were told the policies didn't exist. Then write to the state insurance commissioner in the state where your parents lived. The National Association of Insurance Commissions provides contact information for state insurance commissioners at www.naic.org.

Compiled by Carole Fleck and answered by Sally Hurme