How to proceed with a probate deal

[Jeremy Bridges]

I'm hoping to get some advice on a vacant property I found, and how to proceed.  The house is in disrepair and the owner passed away in 2010.  I've spoken with a guy from the codes department and he told me the story on the house.  It has been a thorn in his side for years, even before the owner died.  He said the son doesn't want anything to do with the property, and said they couldn't find the other possible heirs.  Sounds like he had some other children out of wedlock.  It's accumulated almost $10,000 in liens from the city for maitenance, and another $10,000 in property taxes.  So is there a way to just work with the son since there has been so much time passed since the owner died, and the courts have not been able to locate the other siblings?  If the case has been opened for a while; would that mean it could be closed pretty quickly if I got the son on board?  Thanks in advance for any advice.