Returning Prepaid Rent

[Bartholomew B.]

I had a tenant move in who agreed to pay for a year upfront because he had no credit score. He passed away two months into a 12-month lease, and now his brother is asking for a refund of the unused rent. I have no problem returning the unused rent, but I want to make sure I return it to the proper person. I believe the brother is the next of kin, but I have no way to verify that there isn't a wife, child, or some other relation that should receive the refunded rent. 

I asked the brother to get named the administrator of the deceased estate by a probate judge before I would release the funds to him. The brother is getting agitated with the situation and wants the funds returned. Has anyone else had to deal with a similar situation? How did you handle it?