But you should just get a loan, probably not a mortgage as the amount owed is too low for that and have your mom formally deed it to you.

I have no formal IRS lien but the installment agreement may be viewed the same.

In my experience, if it does not require any "re-zoning", you wont need to formally inform nearby property owners. 

Let them know formal notice to vacate is coming.

CA does not recognize Affidavit of Heirship but does have an Affidavit of Small Estate and other ways to avoid a formal probate. 

I have a couple lessons learned from our first hard money experience. 1) Make sure you include your plan to pay the hard money back in your up front planning and underwriting of your property. 2) Use an attorney to formalize the agreement and record it properly  Then stick to the agreement no matter what.

Not really a formal presentation per se, but answer all the questions.  

The Note is the legal document that contains the actual terms of the loan, it has all the details of the amount borrowed, the interest rate, how often you make payments, late fees, etc.There are three levels of assurances with loans.Just a verbal agreementa formal written promissory noteA recorded mortgage with a promissory noteMy guess is when someone said put the lenders on the deed, they may have meant a deed of trust.

We will apply for the loan jointly as individuals and not with an LLC or formal partnership.OR would it be better if I put all the down payment and limit the partnership to using his income for the loan approval?

He was not a guru and didn't have a formal program.