First newbie mistake - probate

[Erin Elam]

So I went through all the probate admin notices in the local paper and found an interesting notice. After reading and researching the names it seemed to me the mother died in 2011, the father took care of things but now the daughter is becoming the executor.  So tax website showed tax bill for 2014 is past due in mother's name and I'm thinking great my first probate lead. I handwrite a nice letter, a no fake condolences but empathy non-the-less; a no-pressure-but-keep-me-in-mind letter. I was excited taking an actual first step when I mailed the letter - been reading alot and like most newbies trying to make sure not to get stuck in analysis paralysis. 

I looked up the home on Zillow just to get some basics and notice a 2014 foreclosure auction sale date.  Hmmm interesting since I had seen a 2014 tax bill in the deceased woman's name. Then a light bulb appeared hey Erin look up the tax bill BY THE ADDRESS ..... Sure enough there are 2 tax bills and my letter is already in the mail. 

One lesson learned, a hundred more to go.

[Mark Elliott]

don't ever give up. no one ever got anywhere by giving up. mistakes are still the most popular way to learn. you learned from this, so you are still on the right track. i have made many mistakes along the way and learned what to do next and what not to do just by making that mistake. fear of making a mistake is the biggest stop people make. here's something for you to think about. would you make the same mistake again? no, i am sure you won't. so, you have learned. tom edison tried 10,000 times to make a light bulb. someone told him he failed. he said he did not fail because he no knew 10,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb. when he finally make a successful one, he let his assistant take it upstairs for testing. the kid fell on the steps and broke the bulb. edison made another one, and gave it to the same kid to take it upstairs. someone asked him why he would do something foolish like that again. he said it wasn't foolish because that kid would be the least likely person to fall on the stairs and break another one.   never give up, you are on the right track