If you or someone you know has recently lost their spouse, it may be difficult determining if a widow is Ms. or Mrs., or something else altogether. You may also be asking, “Is a widow still considered married?” This and other status changes in a newly widowed person can create much personal and social confusion.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Is it Widow, Widower, or Something Else?
- Are You Considered Married if You’re a Widow or Widower?
- How Long Are You Considered a Widow or Widower?
- What is a Qualified Widow or Widower?
- Other Implications of Being a Widow or Widower
Avoid awkward situations and the anxiety of addressing someone who’s recently lost a spouse by learning from and following some of the suggestions below.
Is it Widow, Widower, or Something Else?
Before launching into the marriage status of someone whose spouse has passed, you may be wondering...which term is even applicable to this situation?
When it comes to dealing with the aftermath of your partner’s death, one of the most challenging things to contend with as a widowed spouse is your changed status.
For example, you may not know if a widow is Ms. or Mrs., or something else altogether. You may not even know what to call someone in this situation. Do you call them a widow or a widower?
Here is the difference between the two:
A widow is a person who identifies as a woman that has lost her spouse. . A widower, on the other hand, is a person who identifies as a man and has lost his spouse. The past tense of either widow or widower is widowed. You can refer to either a man or a woman as a widowed spouse, for example.
There are complex emotions that come up after your spouse dies that can affect many people differently. Consider joining a widow support group to help you process and understand your grief.
Are You Considered Married if You’re a Widow or Widower?
Whether you consider yourself married as a widow, widower, or widowed spouse is a matter of personal preference. Legally you are no longer married after the death of your spouse. From a spiritual standpoint, in religious ceremonies, you usually recite vows that say married “until death do us part,” or something similar.
Some basic things to keep in mind are:
- A widowed person will tell you if they consider themselves still married.
- There is no timeline for a widow to decide when they’re ready to consider themselves “not married.”
- A person who’s lost their spouse may have made a vow to stay “married” for the rest of their life even after their spouse dies.
- Marital status is a matter of personal choice in social settings.
- Legally, when a spouse dies, the contractual marriage is broken and no longer exists.
How Long Are You Considered a Widow or Widower?
A person can live out the rest of their lives under the title widow or widower as long as they do not remarry after the death of their spouse.
For tax purposes, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers a person a legal widowed spouse for two years following the death of their spouse so long as they remain unremarried during that time.
Dating after death of spouse
Many newly widowed persons ask how long after a spouse dies is it okay to date. There’s no magic formula for deciding on the right time for a person to start dating again. You’ll have to find what feels right for you, and consider where you’re in your grief process before making that decision.
Some people are ready to start dating almost immediately after the death of their spouse. Others may choose to remain single for some time while mourning, or for the rest of their lives.
Caregivers
A person that has dedicated the last several weeks and months of their spouse’s lives caring for them may feel ready to start dating almost immediately after their spouse’s death.
One reason for this is that they’ve had time to process their grief and may feel ready to move on with their lives soon after. Although society may shun a widow who starts dating immediately after their spouse’s death, there’s nothing legally or morally wrong with doing so.
The stages of grief for a widower can be different from that of a widow. While one person may be feeling the effects of their grief and sorrow for months after the death of their spouse, others are ready to resume living their life almost immediately.
Young widow(er)s
When a widow(er) loses their spouse at a young age, it may be challenging to live out the rest of their lives without getting back in the dating pool. In cases where young children are involved, a young widow(er) may consider dating to find a suitable partner to help with the childrearing.
If there are no children, a widowed person may want to start dating to find a suitable partner to have children. There are no legal rules against dating after your spouse's death, and you can do so whenever you feel that you're emotionally ready to move ahead with your life.
Cultural traditions
Different cultures have differing views on dating after the death of a spouse. Cultures worldwide have their set rules and traditions in how they view dating and remarriage after widowhood. The expectations for men and women may differ according to these sets of beliefs.
In the U.S., dating after a spouse’s death is considered a normal part of moving forward from grieving. It’s not out of the ordinary for a widowed person to remarry in Western culture. And, although society may raise a few eyebrows when someone remarries soon after the death of their spouse, the gossip soon quiets down, and life resumes as usual.
What is a Qualified Widow or Widower?
A qualifying widow or widower is another name for a federal tax filing status that allows you to file taxes as if you were still Married Filing Jointly with your spouse. This privilege is extended for two years following the death of your spouse.
Who qualifies as a Qualifying Widow(er)? According to the I.R.S., to be considered a Qualifying Widow(er), you must have met the following requirements:
Qualifying and non-qualifying widow(er)s
For the two years after the year of your spouse's death, you can use the Qualifying Widow(er) filing status if all five of the following statements are true:
- You were entitled to file a joint return with your spouse for the year your spouse died. It doesn't matter whether you actually filed a joint return.
- You didn’t remarry for two years following the death of your spouse.
- You have a child or stepchild (not a foster child) whom you can claim as a dependent or could claim as a dependent.
- This child lived in your home all year, except for temporary absences.
- You paid more than half the cost of keeping up a home for the year.
The benefits of the Qualifying Widow(er) filing status is lowered tax rates and the highest standard deduction amounts on your taxes if you don't otherwise itemize your tax deductions.
This filing status entitles you to use joint return tax rates and the highest standard deduction amount (if you don't itemize deductions). It doesn't entitle you to file a joint return.
Consult with a qualified tax accountant for more detailed information as to how this filing status may help you save on your taxes.
Other Implications of Being a Widow or Widower
Some other things to consider after becoming a widow are how your social life and status will change. Most of these changes that occur after the death of a spouse are referred to as secondary losses. The primary loss is that of the spouse, and the secondary losses being the resulting losses.
Some examples of secondary losses are the following:
- Loss of social and economic status
- Loss of home
- Loss of friends
- Loss of identity
- Loss of titles
Social changes
You can expect that once the condolence visits and phone calls end, the social invitations may start to dwindle. This is especially true if your friends are all part of a married couple.
You may no longer fit the social needs of your friends, and inviting you as a single person to their couples outing might make things more complicated for them. Couples nights out, tennis pairs, and game nights are some examples where a single person might make things difficult for others to arrange.
Economic changes
When you lose your spouse at any age, you lose a part of your income that you may have grown dependent on to meet your necessary living expenses.
Unless there was a life insurance policy in place or other sources of income, chances are that you’ll have to make financial adjustments to your spending and lifestyle.
Identity changes
Many people whose spouses have died face the challenges of reinventing themselves and their lives now that they are no longer a part of a married couple.
Roles that often change are that of a spouse, significant other, couple, and any other label given to you when your spouse was still alive. In time, you’ll develop a new identity outside that of when your spouse was alive.
Marital Status After Death of Spouse
How you address a widow comes down to personal preferences. You can avoid some awkward moments by merely asking the widow how they prefer to be addressed.
A spouse’s death legally changes a person’s status to “no longer married,” but a person can choose to consider themselves married for as long as they want. There’s no right or wrong way in choosing what to call yourself. It all comes down to a matter of personal choice.
Sources
- “Publication 501 (2019), Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information.” Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Treasury, 22 June 2020, www.irs.gov/publications/p501#en_US_2019_publink1000220820
As an expert on the topic of widowhood and its various implications, I bring a wealth of knowledge and insight into the complex emotional and societal aspects surrounding the loss of a spouse. My expertise is grounded in a comprehensive understanding of legal, spiritual, and cultural dimensions related to widowhood. To establish my credentials, I'll delve into the key concepts covered in the provided article.
Is it Widow, Widower, or Something Else?
Understanding the terminology is crucial when addressing someone who has lost a spouse. A widow is a woman who has lost her spouse, while a widower is a man who has lost his spouse. Both can be collectively referred to as "widowed spouses."
Are You Considered Married if You’re a Widow or Widower?
Legally, the contractual marriage is terminated upon the death of a spouse. However, whether a person considers themselves married after the loss is a personal choice. Factors such as spiritual beliefs and social settings play a role in how one perceives their marital status.
How Long Are You Considered a Widow or Widower?
The duration of being considered a widow or widower can extend for the rest of one's life if they choose not to remarry. For tax purposes, the IRS recognizes a person as a legal widowed spouse for two years following the death of their spouse, as long as they remain unremarried during that time.
What is a Qualified Widow or Widower?
A Qualified Widow or Widower is a federal tax filing status that allows individuals to file taxes as if they were still married for two years after the death of their spouse. To qualify, specific conditions must be met, including not remarrying for two years, having a dependent child, and meeting home-related financial responsibilities.
Other Implications of Being a Widow or Widower
Beyond the legal and tax considerations, becoming a widow or widower involves secondary losses, such as changes in social and economic status, loss of identity, and adjustments to roles previously defined by the marital relationship. These changes can have profound effects on various aspects of life.
This comprehensive understanding of widowhood encompasses legal, financial, emotional, and social dimensions, allowing for a nuanced exploration of the challenges and choices faced by those who have lost a spouse. The information provided in the article offers practical insights for individuals navigating the complexities of widowhood and those seeking to support them.
