is there a stipulation in law about how long an heir can come forward to claim an

[meletha122694]

interest in property? I asked a question yesterday about when my mother died without a will but I dont think the community got the full details,In 1995 my mothers health was very bad and she needed 24/7 care so I moved onto her property and took care of her until her death in 1998,I had one brother and one sister who passed away before her and at her death I discovered she had no will and she was delinquent on her property taxes for the years 1987-1998, (tax office had switched from paper to computer and hadnt picked up her tax) I made arrangements to pay those taxes and have continued to live on this property ,now 12 years later my brothers son and daughter have come forward to seek a share of the property, my sisters daughter quick-claimed her interest to me. I obtained a lawyer but he seems to tell me one thing one day and another the next, our community is so small I am afraid the lawyers are working together to gain money from both parties in this, This land is my heritage and has been in my family for over 100 years and they are asking it be sold with my home on it and the money split, I need to know if there is anyone who knows if this is legal or is there a stipulation that can help me keep my home and land. I need you to know that my mother had never met these children and hadnt spoken to my brother for over 13 years before her death, my brother had told his friends and co-workers he had no mother, they live 3000 miles from here and when my brother died they left my 70 year old dad to pay for his funeral and I bought the tombstone to go on his grave.