Is there a spouse?

[Belgarath]

Tried a search but didn't find this topic.

In a situation where someone dies, and has no spousal waiver on file, but names a child as sole beneficiary...

What sources would you perhaps use to attempt to determine if there is in fact a surviving spouse? This isn't a plan we administer, so I have no idea whatsoever what plan records they have available. One could perhaps ask the child, but I don't know how old the child is - obviously you wouldn't want to traumatize a young child with such questions! Perhaps employer health insurance records, if they had any? Is the existence or non-existence of a spouse required information for health insurance? Just looking for ideas of possible sources. Thanks in advance!

[masteff]

Employer records for sure, medical, emergency contact, etc. The employee's coworkers might know something useful. An obituary might state who the ee is survived by.

[Guest mjb]

The plan administrator/employer should be able to confirm marital status. But you can also ask the executor or personal representative of the decedent's estate or the guardian of the child if P was married at death.

Q do you know if the beneficiary is the child of the deceased or is it a neice or nephew?

[Belgarath]

Well, I don't know for sure, since this isn't a plan we have anything to do with, so I haven't seen any documentation. But what we were told was that the beneficiary is a child.

Thanks for the responses. How does one go about determining who is the executor of a deceased person's estate? Is there some sort of listing at a State level? Or I guess you just hire a lawyer to do this? I've never been asked or been involved in such a situation.

[JanetM]

Look on the death certificate. It shows single, married, divorced status at time of death.

[Belgarath]

Thanks!