Can you get the phone and number reactivated? That would be worth a try.

If not if the phone number is available (not sure how long before they go back into service after being discontinued) you could get another phone and request the same number - I was able to request a specific number when we got cell phones in the past - that might also work.

Other than that jumping through Intuit's hoops might be your only choice. It's possible that the person incharge of the previous owners estate, might be able to help authorize intuit to assign another number as you being able to operate might be important to maintaining assets of the estate.

Other than that I have no helpful ideas - this was just a few minutes of brainstorming ideas. Good luck ! hope something works.

Oh - and I think it's worth a few days of trying to get access to the current purchased program, as purchasing another copy under your own name and then trying to get a refund on the original might be problematic, ALTHOUGH there might be a path for the Estate Representative to request that refund on behalf of the estate? (another idea popped up while I was typing)

Hope this works out for you.