Small Estates Affidavit Law

I just ordered a Heirship Affidacit to provide to an insurance co for collection of the insurance amount 4k. There is no money in the estate, no real property. My mom passed away 13 days after my dad and the insurance co is requiring a Small Estate Affidavit whereas my mom's life insurance only requested a notorized affidavit. Wouldn't an Heirship affidavit suffice in this instance. My mom left a will and my brother is the executor - we have provided a copy of this to them.

Can I use a Small Estates Affadavit to meet the Stock Certificate Transfer Agent's law requirement for them to reissue a stock certificate in my deceased father's name? The stock value is approx. $990, and there are no other assets of my father that must be declared for probate? And if so, can that reissued stock then be deposited into my joint stock broker's account(my deceased father and I are registered as co-owners of the account). The Transfer Agent says since there is a Certificate Loss, if the Small Estate Affadavit won't qualify, I'll need to get a Certified Letter of Appointment, which I think will be expensive, approaching the value of the stock.

My mother has recently passed away, and I have recieved payroll checks, and vacation checks in her name, but I m not able to cash them. Can you advise me on how I can handle this.

My mother died intestate in Ruidoso, NM, where she lived. She owens a small tract of property in Callahan Co., TX with a value less than $50,000. Where should we file a Small Estate Affidavit? Or can I file the affidavit in my county of residence?

My daughter died without making a will and now I have to get an EIN # in order to receive her retirement savings account? Since I would prefer not to set up an estate, what do I have to do?