YES
There is no general law that prevents a person from granting a life estate to an executor.
Unless the life estate was restricted to the dwelling only the life tenant has the right to the use of the real property for the duration of their natural life. A life estate is an interest in the real property upon which the dwelling sits. The property affected by the life estate is the premises described in the deed to the property.
No. You must sign a deed of release to relinquish your life estate. Your siblings have no authority to force you to surrender it. If they wish to sell and you don't want to relinquish your rights then they would need to sell the property SUBJECT TO your life estate and the buyer would need to purchase the property SUBJECT TO your life estate.
Yes.
No, a life estate does not typically take away a homestead exemption. The homestead exemption is usually based on the property being the primary residence of the owner or their family, regardless of the ownership interest.
The only authority that can force a person to relinquish a life estate would be a judge in a court of law.
In most cases it will default to the estate.
It may depend on the wording of the "life estate." Does it give her permission to live there while she is "ALIVE" or only as long as she maintains her residence there?
Yes, she must maintain the property at least to the extent it was when the life estate was granted, that includes regular maintenance, repairs, taxes, etc.
If your mother granted her husband a life estate in her will the language of the grant would need to be examined for any limitations. If there was no provision made for the life estate to expire upon his remarriage then it lasts for the duration of his life.
If the girlfriend is still alive then she can change her beneficiary. If she died and didn't change her beneficiary then you may have a claim if her estate went to your father. You should speak to an attorney. You refer to a "policy holder" in your question as well as an "estate". If the subject is a life insurance policy and your father was the beneficiary but was deceased when the insured died then be aware that the girlfriend probably named a contingent beneficiary on her policy.
A Life Estate provides the right to the use and sole possession of real estate for the life of the life tenant.A Life Estate provides the right to the use and sole possession of real estate for the life of the life tenant.A Life Estate provides the right to the use and sole possession of real estate for the life of the life tenant.A Life Estate provides the right to the use and sole possession of real estate for the life of the life tenant.