You can only file as a Qualifying Widow or Widower for the two years after the year in which your spouse died. If you do not remarry in the third year after your spouses death, you are considered single. You will need to use the Single filing status unless you qualify to file as Head of Household.

Is widowed a marital status?

“Divorced” indicates people who reported being divorced and had not remarried. “Widowed” indicates people whose last marriage ended with the death of their spouse and they had not remarried. The term “Never married” applies to those who had never been legally married or people whose only marriage ended in an annulment.

Is widowed single or married?

Valid ValuesValueValue MeaningDescriptionWidowedWidowedA person who is no longer married because of the death of his/her spouse and who has not remarried.DivorcedDIVORCEDDIVORCEDSeparatedSeparatedSeparatedNever marriedNever marriedA person who has never been married or whose only marriages have been annulled.4 more rows

What happens if a spouse dies while separated?

Being “separated” and dying without a will results in your spouse getting half of your community property which means that the surviving spouse ends up with about three-fourths of your community estate (the half already owned by the surviving spouse plus half of the dead spouses community property).