My mother passed away first and according to her will everything went to my dad. My dad was fair with mother's personal things and we all knew who she wanted to have her rings, Bible, coin collection.
After her death, my dad planned and paid for his funeral and bless his heart that is the way to go. No problems whatsoever even down to what he was to wear, pallbearers, music, it was so easy on the family.
Dad had given me some papers after my mother died to put away and open when he was gone (sounds morbid but it's not.) He lived five years after my mom passed. His funeral was paid for, his hospital stay was paid for and the homeplace was to be sold and split between the grandchildren. Brother-in-law was administrator of the estate which was agreed upon long before my mom died. Anyway the estate and will went through probate and everything was settled within a year.
I had forgotten about the envelope with papers my dad had given me and wandered upon it a good six months after everything was settled. Inside was a paid up life insurance policy on my dad with me as the beneficiary. I had to submit the policy along with a copy of his death certificate and not a soul was aware of this but me and my dad. He left me a note with the policy asking me to keep this between the two of us. Whose to say he didn't do the same thing for my brother and sister?
I do not know as I've never mentioned the insurance policy.
I do know your mother can take out a life insurance policy and name you as the beneficiary. Even if your brother is administrator or executor it won't matter the insurance policy proceeds will belong to you as beneficiary. All you will need is the policy and a death certificate. Your mother does need a will. You die "intestate" without a will and the state/county takes over.
I hope you have your mother for many many many more years because I learned home was not home without my mom and dad there. It was just a empty house without the two people I loved so dearly.
Hubby and I had our wills drawn up when our children were born to be sure they would be raised like we wanted and by whom in case anything happened to us. The children are grown and gone now and we have added codicils which amends the will. It's a good thing to have.