My mother passed away and apparently had debts, including unpaid wages to her housekeeper. I am hesitant to accept the inheritance. Does settling the unpaid wages expose me to accepting the inheritance ?

No. Article 784, 4° of the Civil Code states that certain actions at the time of death cannot be considered as tacit acceptance of the inheritance. This includes "acts related to the termination of the employment contract of the deceased employer’s employee, the payment of salaries and allowances due to the employee, as well as the issuance of end-of-contract documents."