What's mine and what's hers?

[buzzbee]

My mother is in hospital and has been told she is unlikely to pull through. We have known for some time that it wouldn't be long

My mother has a will, leaving everything 50/50 to me and my sister. My sister feels she should have everything and will fight for all she can get

I have lived with my parents my whole life, which causes an issue. Much of what is in the house is mine, paid for by me over the past 50+ years, while there's also lots belonging to my mum (and late dad)

My sister will take the stance that everything in the house is my mums and she should have 50% of all of it. I have no receipts to prove otherwise

I am not sure what is normal in this case. How is it decided what becomes part of the estate and what is mine?

On a slight side note - We have two bank accounts which are jointly between my mum, me and my sister (My mum wanted this, because she couldn't manage the accounts. There is one main account, into which her pensions and disability payments go. All money into that account is from her pensions and disability. The other account is used to pay the household bills. Money into that account comes partly from me and partly from my mum (From the previously mentioned account). I believe the money in that first account would all be considered as my mums and therefore part of the estate. I am not sure how the other account works, as my sister will want (at least) some of what is in it.

The house is jointly owned (as joint tenants) by me and my mum, so will not be part of the estate

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated

[atticus]

Stand your ground on what are your possessions. It is unrealistic to think that you have been living in a house but own none of its contents.

[buzzbee]

I guess the other thing is does everything have to belong to with my mum or me. There are plenty of things I would consider to be ours. I'm not sure what happens then. Does 50% of it become part of the estate?

[PallasAthena]

I can't answer your last question from a strictly legal point of view but as a practical matter the value of most household goods (other than jewelry, fine art and similar valuables) is low.
Sentimental.value is more important than cash value.

For Probate you value them at what you could sell them for secondhand in their current, used, condition. Which for most people's household goods is very little. Unless you have near new 60" smart TV, but you'd be able to prove who bought that I imagine.