nursing home lien

[ajkustra]

Hi, I hope someone can give me some advice with a problem I have. My great aunt passed away and left my father a house in her will. She also has a bill at the nursing home for 13,000. Medicaid did not cover this because she passed before the application could be processed, so her estate is left with the debt. I have been paying the utilities on the house and maintaining it until now, and I am tired of it bleeding me dry. What I really need to know is if we choose not to settle with the nursing home, and they place a lien on the house how long will it take until they make me sell or give up the house. All taxes will be kept current. Can they force us to probate her estate?