Help after losing a spouse.

[Bayleaf]

One of my beloved clients died yesterday, leaving an equally old and fragile widower. Do we have a thread/sticky anywhere of the general procedure to be followed?

His French is limited and at times like this, it would be less frustrating to be able to converse in English to someone. As a couple, it looks like they'd planned as much as possible for the inevitable day, but it suddenly seems time-scales are "do this now, do that now, must be done within 24hrs". Poor chap, he hasn't even had a chance to catch his breath since his wife was whisked to hospital on Wednesday. Any helpful links would be greatly appreciated, as I'm going to be hand-holding as much as I can.

[Veem]

Check your PM's, Bayleaf

[demi]

I don't know about France, but in the UK one of the most important things to do is to inform all insurance companies asap. (Car, house, contents). Even if the policies are in joint names they stillrequire to be be informed within two weeks or the insurance is invalidated.

I am sure there was a long thread about this from a couple of years ago on here - I'll see if I can find it.

[demi]

For some reason I don't seem to be able to do a link but the thread is called:

Preparing for difficult times. It is on the board French Administration and was started on January 4 2024.

[suein56]

For some reason I don't seem to be able to do a link but the thread is called ..

Link for the above topic .. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=2565

[niemeyjt]

I think the most urgent thing is the funeral - required within a week except with a Prefectorial approval - so if not done already contacting a funeral director - who will hopefully help with other things.

Sadly, I am in UK so dont have access to Dad's notes.

[Bayleaf]

Thank you demi, sue, veem. I'll plough through that thread directly ....

@niemeyjt There won't be any funeral. There is such a thing apparently - they'd been paying into an "after-care" service who supposedly collects the deceased from the hospital and does the necessary.

I'm hoping at least one daughter and grandchildren will make their way over to help their Dad. Otherwise, it'll be Team Bayleaf collectively.

[hughnique]

The pension people need advising and pretty quick as well, both UK and private, if tax has been paid it will be refunded back to April this year. We had a to do with the UK pension service as FIL's private pension overdeclared his tax deducted by a month, nearly a year later they asked us to refund it. Jog on was my response as I told them the estate had been distributed to the beneficiaries, never heard another word. We are trying to get things sorted out regarding wills at the moment, however the problem will only come up if we both die together, all to do with succession. Many condolences to your client Bayleaf it is something inevitable but it still hurts.

[hughnique]

Whether a consideration or not but there are people who, at a cost, hand hold through these times, trouble is finding one who won't rip you off.

[Hotrodder]

Like so many other "services".

I apologise up front for the title of the attachment below but that is how I found it (somewhere) ages ago. The content is detailed and from a reputable source.

Kick the bucket list.pdf

I have no idea if this works, too long to copy the content and paste as text.