If she records a Transfer on Death or Lady Bird Deed, title will pass on death free of probate and free of Medicaid Estate Recovery and, very likely, free of everything but property tax liens.

File an Affidavit of Inability to Pay Costs.

It is not clear what you mean by "settlement." If this is a probate proceeding, the court documents are public. In the US, on average, it takes two years to settle an estate.

Both must be submitted for probate.

The Tarrant County Court should have at least a list of all the filed documents online. Whether you are entitled to some or all of the money in the court registry is another question.

None of you has authority to sell the property at present. Hire a local probate lawyer to help you file an application to administer the estate, sell the property and, after all bills are paid, distribute the net proceeds according to the Texas laws of inheritance.

Write a letter to the court, including any correspondence from them. Then get a new attorney or rehire your old one.

Yes. An inheritance is income just like any other income.

In Texas one is either divorced or married. Whether your parents were separated for 20 minutes or for 20 years, your mother is still your father's widow and inherits under his Will.

In Texas failing a produce a Will is a crime. It you have evidence tending to prove it exists, or existed, such as signing witnesses who can testify as to what it said, please contact a local probate attorney.

Hire a local probate lawyer to protect your interests.

Contact the state bar. We have recently been given the opportunity to designate someone to handle our open files.

You can file to probate his estate before you find all the heirs but will have to find them, even if this means hiring a P.I.. Some probate lawyers have databases which they will check. You may find this is enough. As for the child who wants nothing, that person can disclaim the inheritance and... View More

No. A person's debt is their debt, not that of their spouse.

If you were never adopted, you will only inherit if something was left to you by name in the Will. Where what went or where what might go without a Will does not matter: it will never go to you.

You have a probate attorney with whom you can discuss the probate matter.

With regard to housing, please contact the local Area Agency on Aging. There is subsidized senior housing through HUD and through private organizations.

First discuss the matter with your attorney. There can be years of appeals.

"Common law" marriage does not exist. Your mother may apply for a determination of heirship and attempt to prove an informal marriage (1) registered with the county clerk without benefit of ceremony or (2) based on evidence tending to prove that (a) both parties intended to be married;... View More

The first $15,000 of medical bills of the last illness are payable as a Class 1 claim.

Anything above that is payable as a Class 8 claim.

All are payable before anything is distributed to beneficiaries.

COBRA costs. But if she does die with big medical bills, that could... View More

If all his children were yours, likely you are. Hire a local probate attorney to help you get appointed to settle the estate.