Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

If the estate is insolvent, they cannot collect from you and your siblings (unless you somehow signed something accepting responsibility in the process of giving the care back?) If I were you I'd write back saying there is no formal administration and the estate is insolvent. (but, we do not have an attorney-client relationship and I'm not giving you *legal advice*)

The obligation is that of your mother's estate. If the estate is insolvent you are not obligated to pay it unless you took assets out of the estate, in which case you would be liable to the extent of the assets you took.

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I would certainly let them know your mother is deceased. They have a short statute of limitations to bring an action against a probate estate, and it sounds like it is a nonexistent probate estate.