Honestly, and this is going to sound like an internet asshole spouting off (which normally would be about right) but if you haven't been employed for years...you might want to push this through escro a.s.a.p. (find a lawyer who specializes in it.) typically this takes around 8-12 months (and with the COHHH VIDZ it might be longer) . Know if the house has any liens against it. Also you need to get the water/sewage/trash paid ..as you can't sell a house until its got a zero balance. I have no idea what you're doing for funding (hopefully the house had income coming into the home other than her social security checks) but you're going to need it. April is over (hopefully you got 1/2 the property taxes in) but October will be on you before you know it and those property taxes are insane and getting worse. In short, if you don't have anything, no job , no money...then get a lawyer a.s.a.p and get the house in your name. Sell it a.s.a.p. and use your friends and relatives until you can get some solid financial footing. Sorry for your loss. There's nothing worse than losing your mother....nothing I've found comes close (my (only) wife isn't leaving before me , but I imagine that's equal if not worse) Good luck.