I need to access this account to check on things when my husband died in2006?

So sorry for your loss. However, Yahoo is very strict about it's privacy policies, even in death. And, if it has been that long since he ped, and no one has had access to the account, then it is more than likely that it has been closed due to inactivity. Even, if you could reactivate the account, all of the information in it will have been deleted and can not be retrieved - at all.; AND if you can not provide the information you used to open the account or the vital security questions and answers, you will not be able to recover the pword, change it or access the account. Sorry ...