Vee (OH) said :

Our court accepts Fed-EX photo delivery since hardly any postal service cards are returned resulting in faulty service.

Vee. I don't know which cards you are talking about but when I send Certified mail Return receipt requested (CRRR - the green cards PS form 3811) I look at the upper right hand corner and make sure the area marked "complete this section on delivery" is filled out.

Once upon a time I took several green cards back to the post office and walked out with a little over $42.00 in my hand because they (post office or somebody) had not filled out that section. That corner is why I send CRRR. Should get me a signature and a printed name.

For those interested.

Make sure you retain both the green card (PO form 3811) bar code numbers (22 digits) and the green and white certified mail receipt (Ps form 3800) (20 digits).

Post office once tried to tell me they couldn't track a letter with just the Green card (PO form 3811) They were surprised when I gave them the other numbers they wanted.

Depends on the local law and your local judge and what specific issue you're discussing. The law prevails, unless the judge overrules or interprets it differently.

For example, in my state for Tax Lien certificates that are getting close to the end of redemption period, the law requires that I notify the tenant in three ways:

1) First Class USPS.

2) Posting on the front door or other conspicuous entryway.

3) Certified mailing. * I believe this is correct still... haven't done one in several years. Mike SWMO knows for sure.

Email and text will NOT meet those requirements.

Call me old skool, but I still use written (handwritten or typed) notices for major events, such as non-renewal of a lease agreement either from the tenant or from me. I do allow the tenant to send me a clear picture of their handwritten (signed and dated) notice via email.

As always, you have to ask yourself: "What's the worst possible scenario if the tenant argues that they ever sent this message? How will I prove they actually sent it?"

Text? Nope, their kid/ex-boyfriend/ex-spouse could've picked up their phone and in a fit of range sent out slews of messages to everyone in their contact list.

Email? Nope, same issue.

E-communication can be hacked, and there's nothing to prove the sender who is listed was actually the one who sent the message.

Theoretically, that is also true with snail mail, but again... if I have a "wet" signature that can be compared with the one when they signed the lease....then voila! I have good evidence the tenant actually wrote that thing. Also, the laws and courts have consistently stated and ruled that written snail mail communications are valid. We've still got a ways to go with e-communication.... but we're getting there. Meantime, dot your i's and cross your t's.

Have heard our judges say if it was sent certified return receipted-- just because no one would sign for it doesn't mean it was sent. Attempts and none pick up by resident is residents fault not the sender. We get the card back marked attempted 3 or 4 times-- card returned.

Sarah,

How to communicate is an excellent question. If you have gray hair like myself we have a phone and use it. If you are my son's age, you text quite a bit.

Ray-N-Pa: There are LOTS of us with a gray hair (or two even) who use a phone as a TOOL today. I use and prefer texting. I've got some grays. Don't group us all into your "old man uses phone just for phone calls because they refuse to try out a new TOOL for their business" generalization.

Just because you don't want to move to new tools doesn't mean all of us are in that boat. :)

John,

Depending on your age - a phone can be used for talking and for others it is a text machine with a phone app (based on usage).

I am not saying old people don't text or that young people don't call. I will repeat - You should communicate in manor that works for both of you.

Sometimes a short text works great and sometimes a phone call is in order. I have had younger folks try to pass screening strictly via text. I have had that gabby lead that wanted to share what they had for lunch that day. Balance helps keep the answer it depends.

I think my point is, that it isn't "depending on your age." A phone can be used for talking and for a text machine with a phone app. Regardless of your age.

That's all I was saying. You seemed to be implying that us gray hairs aren't using the new technology. Lots of us ARE as it is a great tool for some of us.

All I suggested was not grouping them into "gray hairs who just use them to talk" and "kids of the gray hairs who use them to text." Lots of us have no problem using new tools. :)