Death/Probate and Eviction Records

[James H.]

I am interested in contacting estates about abandoned homes and am also interested in contacting landlords who have just had to evict tenants.

I went to the JP court of a judge who presided over an eviction that we had to do last year.  I spoke to the staff and even to the judge.  Both told me that there are no records of court cases that the JP has presided over.  Does anyone find this odd?  I would have thought that the office would at least keep a calendar for the judge so that cases are not double booked.  And I would have thought that such information would be available either online or with a FOIA request. 

The second question is about death and probate records.  I notice that many abandoned homes are owned by people who have passed away and that many of them have no relatives listed on their obituaries.  Without that information, how can I find out who the administrator of an estate is?  

Jim