How do I find out if my ex is still living?

Hi. My expertise is limited to Social Security benefits, so I don't know if there is a foolproof way to determine if an ex-spouse is living. Social Security does get information from funeral directors and state death registries, so they are informed in most cases when a person dies. They don't release that information randomly, but if you think that you may qualify for survivor benefits in the event that your ex-spouse is deceased, Social Security may be able to tell you whether or not he or she has died.

Best, Jerry