Mysterious Squatter/distressed property, A+ n'hood, what to do?

[Justin Hennig]

Have a distressed property I want to pursue that needs a ton of work but has awesome potential as a fix/refi/hold. The owner of record has deceased for a few years and the neighbor says the deceased owner's girlfriend still lives there. What steps can be taken to track down the estate and "relocate the quatter" to make a sale possible? Thanks for any assistance!

[Rick H.]

Some strong opinions. 

Since you don't know the backstory, it's quite possible that the girlfriend has more than just possession. 

In essence, you'll need to determine next of kin of decedent. 

While at the courthouse, check out the Decedent's death certificate for clues. Also, check to see if a probate has been started or stalled at any point. 

Once you go down the buy out the legal heirs route, you will like be in an adversarial position with the girlfriend, so consider the eventual cost and delays of eviction in your plan.