Sudden, unwanted change can bring normal life to an unexpected stop.  It can be disorienting and create real emotional, physical and financial distress for you and your loved ones.  Difficult changes such as the loss of a spouse, the loss of a job, or a home, divorce and physical disability…how do you go about the process of recovery and rebuilding while simultaneously dealing with all the details? 

This site is designed to provide you with practical information, tips, tools, and helpful insight regarding some of the most common – and most difficult – unwanted or unexpected changes in life.   It walks you through critical first steps and then short- and long-term issues surrounding your newfound change so that you can gain a measure of control and make informed decisions that work for you and your family. 

The information in this site can help give you the best chance of understanding both the situation you’re (or a loved one is) currently facing as well as the financially-related decisions you will need to make and how to evaluate choices surrounding those decisions.  It provides links to other online resources and tools as well as lists of questions and worksheets you can use to compile information and review information in your own time to make your own decisions.

Dealing with an unexpected loss--and related financial decisions—are difficult by any measure.  However, by taking the time to understand your options, and how to work with organizations (i.e. lenders, insurance companies, etc.) as well as financial professionals (i.e. lawyers, insurance agents), you  and your loves ones you can avoid making choices that could inadvertently compound your loss and create additional financial stress.

• Child Support
  Divorce becomes very complicated – emotionally, legally and financially – when children are involved.  While divorce may be the answer for you and your spouse, both of you will continue to maintain relationships with your children…and that means providing for their physical and emotional needs.
• Playing the Role of Patient Advocate
  At the hospital you will likely play the role of patient advocate. If you have legal authority (i.e.durable or health care power of attorney), then the hospital staff and doctors are legally required to honor your wishes, requests and orders.
• Preplanning a Funeral
  Given what you experienced making arrangements after your spouse's death, no doubt you want to do everything in your power to help your children in the event that you pass away. To help make the grieving process somewhat easier on your children, you may want to consider preplanning some of your funeral arrangements.