When you've had a chance to check out his court records you may find a clue and we would be interested to hear about that, if anything.

As soon as you file with the court, it will become part of the legal record and it could affect her ability to find other housing.One other thing.... whenever a tenant is late with rent, I check to make sure they are paid up on utilities.

For my personal rentals, as well as those I manage, I require all tenants to be either on my blanket renter's insurance policy, or to provide me a declaration's page prior to move in as proof that they have renter's insurance for just these kind of situations.

I know of horror stories regarding eviction cases taking up to a year to evict someone (due to the renters attorney kept filing to extend the court date) and in the end they don't get a dime.

I figured out that I can file suite in county court.

He needs to file a petition with the court to be declared the owner due to being a surviving spouse.I don't think he needs the full probate case that takes 9 months because he is a spouse with community property privileges and not her children.Could be wrong but,I don't think so unless of course her family files a legal objection to his inheritance.

At that point, my lawyer is informed that the landlord isn't keen on paying and to take him to court because he has a lawyer and is fighting it.

Personally I would try to get the current occupant out, without taking them to court.

After you find something that looks neglected the next best thing is to check the address at the registry of deeds and see if their mortgage has been assigned multiple times or if the lender has filed a service members case in land court. 

Some places actually have eviction service companies, which handle the court papers, court, and eviction for you.