Sussex, NJ Estate Planning Law Firms & Lawyers

She should probably hire an attorney to help her because there may be liens or other encumbrances on property that were done without her knowledge.  for the most part, she might be able to avoid paying the charges, and have her husband's estate declared to be "insolvent" and discharge the debt of the estate in a manner similar to a bankruptcy discharge.  The ability to do that is going to depend on what assets are in the estate, what things, if any she owned jointly, and the nature of the debt. 

you do not have to wait for the waivers, but before you pay out anything from the estate, get each recipient to sign a release that they have been paid.  The release can be found on the State Judiciary website.  this is proof that you have done your job as the person in chrage of the estate.

The reason you will have to go to probate is to be able to deal with her assets, even though the assets have very little value.  The way that you will get the authority to do this is by probating her will.  Probate is VERY easy and will cost probably no more that $200.  You will then be given letters testamentary which will be evidence that you are the person who has been given the authority.  Having those letters will allow you to sell the car, and dispose of everything.  Because there is no beneficiary named on the life insurance policy, that police will be made payable to the estate, and you will be responsible for distributing the proceeds the way your grandmother wanted.  After probate, reimburse yourself for any costs, pay her last debts, open an estate account at a bank, deposit the proceeds of the life insurance and what ever you get for the sale of the car, and then distribute everything to the people named in the will.