A few years ago, I registered a domain with a small local domain registrar. I've since become quite dissatisfied with their service and want to switch.
The domain expired a week ago (despite their mails telling me it would automatically be renewed, one of the reasons for the switch).
I've since contacted a new registrar and want to transfer the Domain name, but the old registrar doesn't answer my requests for an Auth code and there is no web interface to obtain one.
What can I do to get the domain transferred?
For completeness, it's a .net domain.
Edit: The previous registrar was a one-person company, and it turns out that one person died last October. Rest in Peace, Sascha.