This applies to both men and women, but I titled this the way I did since men die first about 75% of the time.

Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death…their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills. – Voltaire

The following is a short list of the minimum information married couples need to be aware of in order to protect each other when one spouse dies.

a. One spouse typically handles all of the finances in the house, and it is not always the man of the house.

b. About 74% of the time, the husband dies first. Look at any senior ministry in any church or visit a nursing home if you want to verify this fact. Both overwhelmingly consist of women. (In fact, if this were the only guide, one would conclude that men die first at least 90% of the time!)

c. Organize and discuss all of your finances to protect your spouse if you die first. Make sure your spouse knows where everything is and put this in writing! Do not forget to make note of all the bills that come each month.

d. If you pay the bills, have your spouse pay the monthly bills at least once. Losing a spouse is bad enough. Trying to learn how to pay the bills right after your spouse has died is awful.