Please seek consultation in your area on this matter.  There are many issues that you need to discuss in person and hurdles you need to overcome.  First, if everything was held jointly with his spouse then he had no estate per se when he passed away.  Everything went to his wife.  Also, if there were assets to go against, there are time limitations for creditors to make a claim on estate assets. And the default gives rise to questions like notice and vacating same. Get help.  Good luck.