No problem if they're joint accounts. If they're RR's alone, see if you're the beneficiary. You may just have to show the death certificate.
There may be further instructions about money in his will. If it isn't specifically designated to anyone else, I believe it would be yours.
As for managing the money that comes in each month, don't worry. You don't have to continue RR's systems and methods if you find it confusing. Simplify. Do what appears sensible to you. You can open or close any account you wish, or you can become familiar with what exists and learn to work with it. IT'S YOURS.
All of the banks and companies you deal with will help you. The only problem I see is that you may have to be on hold longer as there are fewer representatives since this Covid 19. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. I HAVE FOUND THEM TO BE VERY UNDERSTANDING OF A DEATH SITUATION. THEY WILL EXTEND TIME IF YOU NEED IT TO GET YOURSELF TOGETHER. IF YOU ASK FOR THEIR HELP, THEY WILL GIVE IT. IF YOU ASK HOW TO DO SOMETHING, THEY WILL TELL YOU. WRITE IT ALL DOWN.
Your thought about paying by check is an indication that you are already thinking of how you would make the process your own. If this would make it easier for you to become familiar with things, by all means, do so. We did this all our lives, before computers. It works. I find that the act of writing helps me to connect and cement new ideas. When you are comfortable with knowing all the income/outgo and can better manage it, you can always resume paying by computer. The end result, getting the bill paid, can be done anyway you want.
As for the automatic withdrawals, you don't have to do anything. The bill is paid from your account AUTOMATICALLY each month. Just learn which/whose bills they are, so you'll know. WRITE IT DOWN ON YOUR LIST.
I'm ok with adding, substracting, etc., but I have a block with certain kinds of reasoning. I did not choose to pay my bills through the bank. I pay each bill I owe separately. This may be a waste of good time, but that's how it started, and I kept it that way. It works.
I put the name of the company I owe in the browser and their site comes up. I go to "PAY MY BILL" and follow the prompts. They send an email receipt. If there is a glitch of any kind, I call them. We figure it out. If there's problem, they'll often take a payment by phone and they don't charge a fee when there's a problem.
What I'm trying to say is there are many ways to skin a cat. There is no one right way. It depends on what makes sense to YOU.
I hope I haven't confused you more. What I'm trying to say is DON'T WORRY. IT ALL WORKS OUT, however you may stumble along in the beginning. The main thing is to know what money you have and where it is, and what you owe each month. .
Another thought. Maybe some senior centers or even AARP can offer help on how to do it. There may even be volunteers who will work with you. Reach out. And if they say no? At least you tried, and you go from there.
By the way, I had my water turned off once. It was many years ago. I had recently divorced and had a job interview to go to. I turned on the shower faucet and nothing came out! This was an important job that I'd studied and prepared for, and I needed it to feed my kids. I ran to my sister's 10 miles away to take a shower! I managed to get to that interview clean. I got the job! At that time, I also got behind on my property tax. I had to pay a penalty, but I caught up the following year. Things work out.
COURAGE!
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