What Do You Do If Your Spouse Dies Before the Divorce Is Finalized with Lisa Zeiderman and Amy Holzman

Financially Ever After Widowhood

What happens if your spouse dies before the divorce is finalized - are you a widow… or still just the spouse they were trying to leave? In this eye-opening episode, Stacy is joined by matrimonial attorney Lisa Zeiderman and estate planning attorney Amy Holzman to unpack a legal gray zone that most couples never anticipate. Whether you're in the middle of separating, contemplating divorce, or supporting someone through it, this episode reveals the hidden consequences of dying mid-divorce - and how to protect your financial and legal interests before it’s too late.

You'll hear them discuss:

• Why divorce proceedings legally stop (abate) if one spouse dies before the final judgment is issued

• The critical difference between being “separated” and “legally separated”

• What happens to wills, inheritance rights, and spousal elections if no divorce agreement has been signed

• How a prenup or postnup can override default spousal inheritance laws

• Whether someone is considered divorced or widowed in the eyes of the law - and why that distinction matters for taxes and Social Security

• The role of survivorship benefits in pensions and retirement accounts after death

• What happens when a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) hasn’t been processed yet

• Why failing to update beneficiary designations (and documents like power of attorney or healthcare proxy) can backfire dramatically

• Practical ways to protect your assets and loved ones - especially if you're over 50 and facing a “gray divorce”

• How estate planning and divorce law must work hand-in-hand to prevent future litigation and financial chaos

Resources

Lisa Zeiderman on the Web | Miller Zeiderman LLP | LinkedIn

Amy Holzman on Law Offices of Amy Holzman | LinkedIn

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | X(Twitter) | Email

FrancisFinancial.com

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