Can I probate myself?

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Texas

My father passed away and he lived with me. He had a will. He only had $800 in bank account and a 1996 Chevy Blazer.

He had no life insurance and I would like to get the $800 to pay for some funeral expenses.

I lost my job the week after he passed and have been unemployed for about a month now.

Do I have to hire a lawyer to do all this or does the will even have to be probated?

There are two ways in TX that a small estate can be handled:

1) Without a will, by an affidavit
2) With a will, probating the will as muniment of title

You can read the statutes at these links:

PROBATE CODE  CHAPTER VI. SPECIAL TYPES OF ADMINISTRATION

PROBATE CODE  CHAPTER V. PROBATE AND GRANT OF ADMINISTRATION

Or you can do a search on terms like "texas small estate".

If you have the time and can handle the forms, you can probably get by without an attorney.