Can you stop a claim on a deceased persons estate?

No, her debts are paid first, if there's anything left over after the debts, then you'll inherit it.

In Illinois, in order to transfer assets of a deceased person to hears or legatees a probate estate must be opened if the value exceeds $100,000. In this case you have real estate which also requires a probate case. If the property automatically transfers on death, like joint tenancy property or by means of a transfer on death deed, then no probate would be required. You should meet with an attorney to determine if a probate is required to transfer assets. Creditors of a deceased person must file a claim in the estate within 6 months of publication of the opening of the estate in order to maintain a valid claim. Known creditors of a deceased person must receive actual notice of the opening of the estate and then have a similar period within which to file a claim. Once a claim is filed it can be contested by the estate. If the claim is found valid, then the creditor must be paid before any asset can be distributed to the heirs and legatees. If no probate is opened by the family, heirs and legatees, a creditor can open a probate estate in order to assert its claim.

An estate has a legal obligation to pay every debt owed by the decedent. If there is not enough liquid cash to cover all the claims, then the executor/personal representative must sell some or all of the other assets to raise the money needed. That includes real property and the buildings on it. The fact that it was your mother's property and that you currently live there does not give you any claim or title to it. However, you should check to see if some other entity, such as health insurance or Medicaid/Medicare, will pay some or all of your mother's medical bills. If your mother's final illness was caused by someone, such as in a car or workplace accident, will the other person's insurance pay the bills? Will the health providers and/or health facilities reduce the amount of the bills for any reason? If the estate is stuck with the medical bills and other final expenses, does state law give you any claim to the property for any reason, such as you paying all the bills with your own money for several years in exchange for a future interest in the property? If there are no other options, you would inherit the property if the bills didn't exist, and you really want to continue to live in the house, you may have to purchase the house yourself at a fair market price and that payment would go to cover the medical bills.

Sorry, the bill has to be paid before you get the house.

I would certainly suggest that you should confer with an attorney about your situation. Generally however, first aid will be liable for her medical expenses and it appears from your question that she was the owner of the house and land.

I am assuming there is a probate estate open. Creditors, including medical providers, need to file a claim against the estate. They must do this within 6 months from the first publication of notice that a personal representative has been appointed. The estate must pay claims in the order of preference. Claims are paid until assets are used up. It is conceivable that creditors might be able to enforce a judgment against the property. You should retains the assistance of a probate attorney.

If you are not on title, you have a big problem. In order to have title passed to you, you have to file for probate, but that also requires notifying all potential creditors. Since your mother is dead, her estate can not claim a homestead exemption. If there is a mortgage on the house then that is superior to a claim by an unsecured creditor such as the hospital and if you can convince the lender to accept you on the loan in place of your mother or with her, perhaps you can save the house as the medical providers may not want to put a lien on the house and wait for years until the lien is paid off. They might be willing to write the whole debt off. You need to see a local probate attorney familiar with this type of problem. It is well worth paying a few hundred dollars to get sound advice on what can be done.

None that I know of. Each claim is handled separately, you need to review it to determine if it's valid, and disallow it if it's not valid (assuming you're the appointed personal representative of the estate). But if the claims are valid, they have to be paid to the extent of property in the estate. You can negotiate and compromise claims; you may be able to borrow against the home to pay the claims. But then, if you've started probate, don't you have a lawyer helping you with that? If you have an insolvent estate, you should seek counsel. The attorney fees will have priority over the claims. Be advised that if you don't open probate, the creditors can.