Pay Dirt is Slate’s money advice column. Have a question? Send it to Kristin and Ilyce here . (It’s anonymous!)

Dear Pay Dirt,

I have a somewhat complicated financial situation. I’m 62, estranged from my husband, and about to inherit some money. My husband and I always kept our finances separate. He got into debt, sold the house he inherited and that we lived in for 30 years, changed the locks, and kept all of the money. I was in the middle of a health crisis, and when the dust settled, I’ve been living in an affordable studio and living within my means. A second cousin died, and my share of the inheritance is said to be $500,000 for a conservative estimate.

I have several questions. Part of the estate is a home with lead paint and asbestos. I live in an area that typically

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