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.

Is a widow still legally married?

If youre making a WillMaker will, your spouse has died, and you havent remarried, choose I am not married as your marital status. If you still think of yourself as married, choosing I am not married may be unsettling. However, in the eyes of the law, your marriage ended when your spouse died.

How long can you file as qualifying widow?

2 years You may use this filing status for 2 years after the year of your spouses death if the qualifications are met. This allows you to keep the benefits of Married/RDP filing jointly.

What is considered a widow?

A widow is a woman whose spouse has died; a widower is a man whose spouse has died.