Question about writing to comuni for birth/death/marriage records

[pricklypear]

Ciao a tutti

I've been wanting to write to several comuni in Calabria for a while now, to request records for my boyfriend's family tree (he's the Italian one!) that are not on Antenati - they will be from the 1900s, albeit people who are deceased. It's unlikely we'll be visiting Italy any time soon to do it in person.

I have found the email addresses of the ones I need (for example Acquaro in Vibo Valentia, and Cinquefrondi in Reggio Calabria).

When requesting for information, is it better to write in Italian? My boyfriend speaks the language but not as confidently anymore. I could probably wait until I see his family, his mother is fluent and would be able to help me compose a message. I aim to give as much information as possible.

Is there anything in particular they would need from me (ID etc)? And is there a payment required?

Lastly, how long are people waiting to hear back from them? Weeks? Months?

Grazie! Appreciate any responses and advice.

P.S. I used this site to find out information about each comuni: http://www.comuni-italiani.it/

[pricklypear]

Oh, and is it better to write an email asking whether they can provide documents BEFORE I give them a list of all the people I want etc? I dunno how it works over there.

[cedrone]

I'll give you details later.
Please tell me in which Country you are and your purpose,
you need a photo of the register (as those on Family Search) to study the genealogy of the family or a certificate to be used for administrative use (request of cizenship, or other use in your Country) or both? (It is different).

I'll continue later.

[cedrone]

To your second message.
You should not ask before sending your request, the Comune must reply, if the request is made correctly. I'll try to find a sample of the text you may use.

[pricklypear]

I'll give you details later.
Please tell me in which Country you are and your purpose,
you need a photo of the register (as those on Family Search) to study the genealogy of the family or a certificate to be used for administrative use (request of cizenship, or other use in your Country) or both? (It is different).

I'll continue later.

Ciao cedrone
I'm in Australia. The purpose is to help find birth, death and marriage certificates for my boyfriend's family tree research. For example, his mother's paternal grandmother, we have no idea when she was born or died, only vague dates, and we know even less about her husband. We don't officially know her parents' names, I have an idea, but the birth certificate will confirm once and for all so it would be really useful.

I don't understand what you mean by photo of the register?

Would appreciate some sample text, that would help a lot. Grazie.

As I said, if it needs to be written in Italian that's okay, I will liaise with my boyfriend's mother.

[cedrone]

I'll write later with a sample text of the request, in Italian (it is better).
Where did you find the names of the comuni and the persons you want to ask about?
Have you used the most used websites, Family Search and Antenati?
Here you find the photos of the pages of the original registers (usually for study of genealogy is better this, but it may happen it is difficult to read due to bad writing).
Or you may ask a certificate, that is a transcription of the relevant info made by the Official of the Comune.
This is what it's needed for administrative use, in Italy or abroad, it may be necessary also a translation and a legalization ("Apostile").

[cedrone]

I'll continue later, here sometimes messages are lost and I have to re-write.

[pricklypear]

I'll write later with a sample text of the request, in Italian (it is better).
Where did you find the names of the comuni and the persons you want to ask about?
Have you used the most used websites, Family Search and Antenati?
Here you find the photos of the pages of the original registers (usually for study of genealogy is better this, but it may happen it is difficult to read due to bad writing).
Or you may ask a certificate, that is a transcription of the relevant info made by the Official of the Comune.
This is what it's needed for administrative use, in Italy or abroad, it may be necessary also a translation and a legalization ("Apostile").

Trust me, if I could have gotten this information from Antenati/Family Search I would have found it already...
The names come from my boyfriend's mother, it's her family.
One of the comuni is Cinquefrondi, Reggio Calabria, and unfortunately the birth records don't go beyond a certain date, and this relative had to have been born after this time (c. 1902). I have no idea when her husband was born, but he was from a tiny village called Limpidi, which is a frazioni of Acquaro, Vibo Valentia. Unfortunately Vibo Valentia have very few archived records online. We have their death dates as 1989 but again, I don't know if this is correct. I don't know when they got married. I have the birth/death date of one of their sons (my boyfriend's mother's father!). He had two siblings, we know their names but not the dates of birth or death, only estimations. So we really do have a lot of holes in this tree sadly.

As for messages being lost, I always copy/paste what I've written before I press Submit. That means if it doesn't send, at least I don't have to retype it. Hope that helps you!

I appreciate your help.

[pricklypear]

I also wouldn't worry about asking for a translation into English. I've done pretty well reading the records on Antenati (I know little Italian but it's not too hard to figure out, and Google Translate has helped)

[cedrone]

I'll send you later the e-mail address of the comuni.
It's better to look at the website of every single Comune to see updated info.
Some comune has detailed instruction to ask documents and /or a form to ask directly on the website.
Otherwise you may send an email.

[cedrone]

I referred to a translation into English in the case you need to use a certificate for administrative use in your Country, but it seems it's not the case, you need to study the family.
In this case you may ask a 'copia integrale' of the page of the register (as those on Family Search, it's what I called a photo of the register). (follows)

[pricklypear]

Thank you very much! You are too kind.
And yes, I understand why you would look at their websites.

Ahh I see, that makes sense I think

[cedrone]

Excuse me for not have concluded with you.
You may use these addresses:

statocivile@comune.cinquefrondi.rc.it

comunediacquaro@tiscali.it


I'll give you an exemple of a letter.

[cedrone]

However when you write feel free to send me the text by Private Message, I'll review it.

1. It's better if the request is made by a descendant, you may indicate the relation.
2. Enclose a copy (both sides) of an ID document (usually an Identity Card or a Driving Licence)
3. As already said, the copies and certificates sent by e-mail are free of any tax or payment.

[cedrone]

I can't attach a file here or by PM.
Please send me your email address by PM