Credit Report
Florence:
Hope this may help with some of your issues:
1-go to freecreditreport.com and review your credit. If your mother put you on any loans against the home it will show up on your credit.
2-Call your county clerk and give the address & she will tell you exactly whose names are on the deed & exactly how it is titled. i.e. tenants in common or rights of survivorship. The $1 she is talking about is usually a "quick deed" to either add or remove a name from the title on the property. It does sound like maybe she is hiding something since she knows about a one dollar sale.
3-Cats-you may have to take them to a local animal shelter if you are unable to find homes for them yourself. Me--my ex A left me with a 1.200 pound Morgan Gelding & no luck finding him a home so unfortunately I will have to put him down on July 11th. It is breaking my heart so try to find a home first on your own--I would hate to see you deal with the grief I am about to experience.
My prayers are with you.