[wdfifteen]

So sorry to hear about your father. I hope his final days were peaceful.

I'm in Ohio and I just finished going through this with my parent's estates. I do not recommend you do anything until you engage an attorney. There is a nightmare of arcane rules that have to be followed and if you screw up it can get very expensive unscrewing it.
Glen described some of the things that you will go through, but I did none of that myself because I hired an attorney right off the bat. I am VERY glad I did.
Suggestions:
1. Hire an attorney
2. Don't pay any bills that won't result in a serious penalty (like having gas or electric service shut off). Send letters to every creditor explaining that the estate is in probate and they will get paid as soon as the process allows. Amazingly, several thousand dollars worth of my parent's medical bills disappeared over the year it took to finish the probate process. They would send a bill, I sent the letter back, 10 months later I called to get a current balance and was told it was zero. Happened with more than one creditor.
3. keep records of everything, mileage, phone bills, etc.
4. make copies of everything