And the next piece needed is whether the occupants are the former owners (or heirs of deceased owners), or whether they are renters?

In my extensive experience this is intended to provide heirs and devisees of deceased owners ample opportunity to assert and/or defend their claims.I've been on both sides of these cases.

Has anyone been living in the apartment between the deceased owner and this tenant?

You should probably be good, I would have them sign a letter stating that they "removed his property, and will vacate the property by March 31, signed by both brothers..Ask for address and contact where to send mail & deposit.. but make the check out to deceased..shouldn't be a issue,, it can be tricky,, It takes weeks for death certificate.. usually not required it's up to you. 

This is a real out of the way part of CA, right on the OR border, but is popular with tourists and travelers during the summer months.  

Rental market just across border from Chicago in Indiana is killer if you're looking in that area.

This post is being added for those who are buying a property at sheriff sale in PA and the property has a deceased owner, to be aware of the potential for a silent / undisclosed inheritance tax lien.https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/580/topics/839134-pennsylvania-inheritance-tax-payment-for-a-sheriff-sale-property

Hey Peter, do you pay the attorneys a fee for giving you the information of the deceased?

I didn’t send one of those cheesy ‘sorry for your loss….but sell me your deceased loved ones house’ letters and just opted for the basic ‘we buy houses’ message.

I lived in WA for nearly 20 years, from the White Salmon area to Seattle, Bellingham - I owned a house in Sumas on the Canadian border, too.You know what might work for Chelan for the workers who need to live there year round, is to find a LIHTC (low income housing tax credit) investor group to build an apartment complex or two in town.