I found out how to avoid getting that error message! My FIL passed away last year. My MIL is the surviving spouse. I kept getting the same error message when I e-filed that many people have posted about. I switched the order of the two names, to put my MIL first, and the return was accepted! I was able to keep the deceased box checked for my FIL and I put "widowed" for my MIL. Yay! Didn't have to submit by paper! TT experts should say to try this.
