Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

First, I am very sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, I would not suggest that you do anything. The cousins - if in fact they are the closest relatives - need to take action to obtain control of her assets, liquidate them and pay creditors. Otherwise, this just drops into a big, black hole and nobody will do anything with it. As you are not related to this person, you should stay out of it entirely. Any efforts to do anything relative to her property or debts and you put yourself at risk of being sued by the cousins or other relatives who may rightfully have a claim against her estate.

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I agree with Mr. Gibbs. The biggest help you could provide would be to keep the cousins fully informed. The law of intestate succession will give the cousins her property, and they should hustle to prevent erosion of the estate, which is, by the way, responsible for the remaining lease on the apartment as well as any other of her debts.