Probate

[Mark Plesha]

I found a home in my subdivision that looked like it needed some work so I decided to check it out on my counties assessors page. I found the owner and when I googled her name an obituary page came up. I learned that her husband passed away years ago and her son lives in the next town over. There are people at the house occasionally, but it does not seem like anyone is living there. My question is should I send a letter addressed to the home in her name or send it to the son's address in his name? Any help in this matter would be much appreciated, thanks.

[Rick H.]

Check county courthouse for any open probate. 

If it's currently open, determine name and contact info for the PR (personal representative, administrator or executor).

If probate already closed, determine who property was distributed to (inherited).

If no probate (I use the term "pre-probate"), you now need to convince the family if the benefits of selling oroperty to you and the need to probate the Decedent's estate in order to do so.