I have been through the massive process of settling estates, my mother and recently my sister. Both were hoards and no organization to items.

Some days were better than others, and like your family, some were very attached emotional and others would but everything in dumpster if I let them.

As you, both saved every piece of paper. My approach was:
- Sort by category, taxes, financial, pension, SS, insurance, vehicles, utility, house, medical, etc….
- Think about what might be needed for probate
- Once have in category, attack the most important first and sort again by type (company) and then by date.
- Keep tax info, it is very helpful to determine where they had investments, etc…
- The financial and insurance info will help find out if have any accounts did not know about
- Some less important, I put in box to go thru at later date.

As far as non - paper items, some family members fought over items, then few years later they had disposed of or did not care anymore.
- We took turns picking items we wanted
- Whatever was less was disposed of or donated

It is seems overwhelming at times, you just have to take your time.

Laurie