I have now after talking with many people realized that the chance on my mother-in-law being found incompetent are slim to none because she is aloud to make horrid decisions as long as she knows who she is and can fake her way through with a nod and a smile. I need to know if my husband being her next of kin will have to take care of what she leaves behind or if we can walk away and let the state or whoever deal with her issues and belongings and final expenses. I cannot let her bad decisions ruin what we are working so hard to build, we are finally starting to be OK financially and I will not let her take us back down by leaving us with her problems financial and otherwise.

Children pay none of their parents bills and are not held liable.

He may have to go in and help settle probate or notify debtors she is dead and there is no money left.

When she dies, anything she owns would be sold to pay her debts, any debt left is just not paid. ( assuming she is not married or widowed)