She is absolutely right on that particular point. Her costs could run to many thousands of dollars. The wife was a wise spender. But, as Barbara has already emphasized, she is unable to foot the cost of gumshoes. Not at all.
Help often is right at hand.
That piece of paper asks for the names of Ben's mutual funds, banks and other sources of dividends and interest. It mandates disclosure of his sales of stocks and other assets. Schedule E lists his rental properties. Fortunately, latching onto copies of joint returns is one chore that someone like Barbara readily can handle without the need for paid assistance from a lawyer or anyone else. If Barbara and Ben paid someone to complete their returns, the easiest way for her to get copies is to contact their preparer.