Probate ?

[James Peoples]

I mailed a letter to executor of an estate and received no response. I have their phone number from the case file, should I follow up with them with a phone call or wait a few days and send a follow up letter?

[Rick H.]

If I understand you correctly, you mailed out one letter? Okay, we've all gotta start somewhere and you took action.

Should you wait to call? Your issue is timidity; a lack of confidence. There's nothing wrong with contacting an executor by phone IF you have good reason to call.

Here's my take on probate and sensitivity to an executor's grief: once someone has filed probate they're concerned with stuff (money, bills, heirs and ownership). In nearly twenty five years of working probates and speaking to literally thousands of people, I've only experienced two or three people who were so grief stricken that they had difficulty doing business.

May I suggest that you have a little script, some notes and a checklist of things that ought to be in an initial conversation. This would be a good use of time for both you and effective use of time for the executor. Focus on discovering what they need, not what you want.

My approach is to be professional and helpful. You never know how offering to do some small thing will lighten the load of an overwhelmed executor.