I am trying to restore an iPad that belongs to my motherinlaw that has an activation lock currently. I have her password and apple id but it will not accept them

If you have forgotten your AppleID or associated password, these can be recovered here:

https://iforgot.apple.com

To recover your credentials, you’ll need access to one of the following:

• Your primary email address mailbox that corresponds with your AppleID
• Any of the secondary/recovery email addresses that should be configured for your AppleID account
• Any of the trusted telephone numbers (fixed line or Cellular/Mobile) that are associated with your AppleID

Unless you AppleID account has not been fully/correctly configured, or has been seriously neglected, recovery of the AppleID and password should not be difficult.

More information about recovery of your AppleID:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201354

More information about recovery of your AppleID password:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201487

When you recover access to your credentials, you would be well advised to log-in to your AppleID account from a web browser - and verify/update any email addresses and trusted telephone numbers:

https://appleid.apple.com

The only way to unlock Activation Lock is with the correct Apple ID and Password of the person who originally set up the device. If your information will not unlock, Apple may be able to help if you can produce the original receipt clearly showing the serial number. I suggest that you try contacting Apple directly by clicking on Contact Support at upper right of any forum page.