By Eric P. Rothenberg, Esq. – When a spouse dies, estate transfer is not always simple. Complications can arise for the surviving spouse. One area that can be challenging is when the first to die spouse took out a reverse mortgage on their home without putting the surviving spouse’s name on it. Often, the surviving spouse’s right to stay in their home is called into question. However, a recent ruling by a federal court will add protection for surviving spouses. Consider a brief summary of reverse mortgages and what this ruling means for those that utilize them. What is a Reverse Mortgage? Reverse mortgages are a type of Home Equity Conversion Loan utilized by people 62 or older. They are most often used when a couple own their home with a lot of equity but because they make little in income to support a mortgage, they cannot borrow money to