German Genealogy Sample Letter - Churches
Instructions
1. After the word "über", fill in the name of your ancestor, after "geboren", his birth date, and after "in", his place of birth.
2. Enclose the equivalent of $15 (or if in the United States, a money order or foreign bank draft and 2 International Reply Coupons from your post office). (See caveat below concerning sending money orders overseas).
3. Address envelope to:
An das Evangelische (or Katholische) Pfarramt
Street Number
Zip Code Town
Germany
Translation
Date
Dear Pastor,
In order to complete my family history, I would need information about my ancestor _______________, born _______________ in ____________________.
May I kindly ask you to send me a complete extract of the birth record from the parish register for the above named.
Should it be possible to send me extracts of birth, marriage, or death records of his parents, who are supposed to have lived in the same town, I would be most grateful for this help.
I am enclosing $15 to cover the necessary fees. Should you incur additional expenses, please let me know.
Thank you in advance for your aid.
Respectfully yours,
Your name
Your address
Datum
Sehr geehrter Herr Pfarrer!
Zur Vervollständigung meiner Familiengeschichte benötige ich nähere Angaben über _______________ geboren _______________ in ____________________.
Ich bitte Sie freundlichst um Übersendung eines vollständigen Auszuges über diesen Vorfahren aus dem Geburtenregister der Pfarrei.
Sollte es Ihnen möglich sein, mir zusätzlich Auszüge über Geburt, Heirat oder Tod seiner Eltern anzufertigen, die am selben Ort gewohnt haben sollen, so wäre ich Ihnen auch für diese Bemühungen sehr dankbar.
Ich lege Ihnen $15 zur Begleichung anfallender Gebühren bei. Sollten Ihnen weitere Auslagen entstehen, so bitte ich Sie, mir dies mitzuteilen.
Fuer Ihre Hilfe danke ich Ihnen herzlich im voraus.
Mit vorzüglicher Hochachtung.
Your name
Your address
***Please read the following concerning payments to Germany:
The most convenient and economical way to send money overseas is to use a credit card for payment. Then you avoid bank fees and get a good exchange rate. For small amounts you might consider sending European cash, which you should be able to procure at most banks, with a somewhat worse exchange rate and also an exchange fee. For larger amounts you might want to send a bank wire. Checks drafted in foreign currency may also be obtained from International Currency Express Inc. for a US$10 fee. Or call +1-888-278-6628.
In Germany, International Reply Coupons (IRCs) can only be redeemed for postage, and even then only one coupon per piece of outgoing international mail. Thus IRCs are not a general means of payment. International postal money orders are not accepted in Germany.
