Do I file single or a joint return. My spouse passed this past October

[LeslieO]

You should file as married filing jointly. There is a place where you enter that he  has passed away.   The only issue is if someone else is the administrator of the estae and they decided you should not file jointly. mostly the surviving spouse is the administrator and files jointly. My husband passed in March 2021.  Where he would have signed his name it printed filing as the surviving spouse.  Also if you plan to e file you will need his drivers license.  Good luck  and let me say it doesnt hurt so much so often as time passes.