Sometimes we need to write to the civil archives in Italy requesting information about our ancestor. Below you will find a number of basic letters that you are welcome to copy and use. Many of the people that I have helped with their Anglo Italian research have used these free Italian translations with excellent results. I always suggest that you enclose a small amount of money to cover the cost of copies and postage however you are not obliged to do so. If you have any doubts as to where you need to write please visit the Anglo Italian Genealogy page. http://angloitaliangenresearch.blogspot.com/ I also have a concise list of books on Italian Genealogy which covers numerous countries. http://italiangenealogybooks.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to link to this page so that others can make use of it.

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Italian translation requesting a Certificate Stato di Famiglia o Situazione della Famiglia



As far as I am concerned this is one of the most important documents that you can obtain. Here it not only gives you details of your ancestor but all the family members that are over 18 years of age. On the one I received for my Great grandfather this included details of when they actually left the Comune and where they went to, this helped me obtain an idea of when they actually emigrated away from Italy. I suggest that you request the certificate for the father if this is known rather than the son or daughter. You will be charged for this but it is a minimal set sum. However as in the other letters you have the choice (4) of enclosing 10€ or take that part out and (3) asking for them to let you know what you owe.

.........................................................................

Ufficio Anagrafe di (name of town)
Italy


Egregi Signori,
Vi sarei estremamente grato se poteste effettuare una ricerca nei vostri registri e spedirmi il certificato di stato di famiglia di (Family surname and fathers name if you know it ) ...........................

Moglie (wife) ......................... if unknown put "sconosciuto"

Also add any childern (Figlio) born in the same comune with a year (this can be your ancestor).
Figlio
Full name ..................... nato intorno al (year of birth) ...................

3) Vi prego di volermi comunicare l'ammontare dovuto per spese e postali nonché specificare il metodo di pagamento da voi preferito.

Or

(4) Accludo 10 euros, nel casa questa somma non fosse sufficiente, Vi prego di fami sapere quanto ancora ve devo.


Ringraziando Vi anticipatamente per la Vostra attenzione.

Distinti saluti,


-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translation


Dear Sir:

I would appreciate it if you could examine your records and send me a family certificate (certificato di stato di famiglia) for the family ......................

Wife’s details if known ..............................

Your ancestor if he is a son or daughter and any other children born in that commune in Italy

Children
Full name ............... year of birth .........................

(3)Please let me know how much I owe you for any cost incurred and how you would like me to send the money.
Or
(4)I enclose 10 € for the expenses occurred, if this is insufficient please let me know and I will send the total sum as soon as possible

Thank you kindly for your help.

Sincerely,



*
I hope that you receive a response to these free Italian translations, do let me know by leaving a comment.

Friday 22 January 2010

A letter to people in Italy

Here is a very simple letter to people in Italy asking if they know something about the family you are researching.

Sometimes it is worth sending letters to people in Italy with the same surname that live around the area that you believe or know that your family came from; asking them if they know any information or have any relationship with the family.

** Egli = He
Ella = She


Gentile Signore o Signora,

Sto facendo una ricerca sulla mia famiglia che include il nome (name of person your researching) .........., questa nome Le e familiare?

Ho scoperta che **Egli/Ella ha sposata(name of spouse) ........... e che vivera in (where they lived) ...................

Qualore averse qualsiasi informazione di questa famiglia, sarei grato di conoscere
più, se Lei forse cosi gentile da inviarmela.

Con mille ringraziamenti anticipati, cordiali saluti.

SIGN



---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Translation:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am researching my family which includes the name..............are you familiar with this name?

I have found that he/she married (name of spouse) ..........and lived in .....

If you have any information about this family I would be grateful if you would let me know.

With many thanks,
Yours sincerly

Signature

*
I hope that you receive a response to these free Italian translations, do let me know by leaving a comment.

Requesting "Registro di Leva" from Italy


Letter to the State archives of the Comune your family came from requesting military records


This can be an extremely interesting document; I actually received a response about my Grandfather's "Leva" via email although I was asked to send a very small sum of money for the look up. It actually stated that he had not done his military service at the age of 21, he was classed as having deserted but he did return to Italy in the WW1 to comply with the Italian law. It went on to give exactly where he had been serving during the two years that he was enlisted. A large amount of the Italian emigrants that left Italy before they were 18 did not return to do their conscription and therefore would be classed as "deserters".

This letter has to be sent to the State archives of the Comune where you believe the person you are researching originated from, if you receive a negative reply you could then try the Ufficio di Anagrafe at the local council.

As always a request for the costs of them sending you the certificate (3) is mentioned but you can enclose around 10 Euros and use (4) please take out the one you don’t wish to use.


Egregio Direttore or Gentile Direttrice to a woman if known.

Sono alla ricerca della mia storia famigliare, gradirei, se le fosse possibile, richiedere il suo aiuto.

Per favore, mi potrebbe spedire i registro di leva di (full name).............. figlio di (fathers name)..................., nato il (full date or year) ……………….. in questa comune.


(3) Vi prego di volermi comunicare l'ammontare dovuto per spese e postali nonché specificare il metodo di pagamento da voi
preferito.

Or

(4) Alla presente accludo 10 euros, nel casa questa somma non fosse sufficiente, Vi prego di fami sapere quanto ancora ve devo.

Se il documento non può essere trovato, Le sarei grata se potesse suggerirmi come e dove proseguire la mia ricerca.


Le invio i miei piu' sinceri e cordiali saluti.

SIGN

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Translation:


Dear Director:

I am trying to complete the history of my family and I would appreciate your help.

Can you please supply me with the details of the conscription record for (ancestors full name)................. Son of (father’s name).................. born (full date if possible or year)................. in this commune.

(3)Please let me know how much I owe you for any cost incurred and how you would like me to send the money.

Or

(4)I enclose 10 € for the expenses occurred, if this is insufficient please let me know and I will send the total sum as soon as possible

If any documentacion cannot be found I would be grateful if you could suggest how and where my research could be pursued.

Yours sincerely


*
I hope that you receive a response to these free Italian translations, do let me know by leaving a comment.

Requesting Baptism records from a church in Italy



From past experience, the probability of receiving a reply from the priest where your ancestor was born is not very satisfactory, the majority of the priests have their work cut out and really do not have time to delve in the archives to find a birth record for someone who died over a hundred years ago, however there are exceptions so do try.

Again I always suggest that you send some money to cover costs, in this case I phrase it as a donation, if you do not wish to send any money the take out the phrase in bold carachters .

*bisnonno is Great Grandfather nonno is Grandfather
Bisnonna is Grnadmother Nonna is Grandmother add the correct one.


Rev. Parroco di (name of church)
Comune

Reverendo Padre,

Mi risulta che il mio *bisnonno / nonno, (full name)................. figlio di (fathers name)..............., fu battezzato nella Sua parrocchio intorno al (year) .......... Le sarei molto grato se potesse cercare il suo atto di battesimo e l'atto di matrimonio dei suoi gentori. Nel caso riuscisse a trovarli, vorrei pregarla di spedirmene gli estratti con i nomi dei genitori così come sono registrati.

Alla presente accludo una donazione, in caso non fosse sufficiente, La prego di farmi sapere quanto ancora Le devo.

Ringraziando La fin d'ora per quanto potra' fare,

La saluto cordialmente.



---------------------------------------------------------------------
Translation:

PRIEST OF THE PARISH OF(Comune).....

Reverend Father:

I believe that my **greatgrandfather........., son of............, was baptised in your parish in about ............. I would appreciate it very much if you could seek his baptism record and the marriage record of his parents and if found please send me extracts including the names of parents as given in each entry.

Enclosed is a donation, if this is insufficient, please inform me of the additional amount to send.

Thank you for your help,

Yours Sincerely,

*
I hope that you receive a response to these free Italian translations, do let me know by leaving a comment.

Thursday 21 January 2010

Requesting a Marriage certificate


Following the simple rules that I have mentioned below you should have no trouble with completing this letter, however if you do have any questions please post a comment below the post and I will reply as soon as possible.

You may also include an email address, they might reply faster than by post, although by experience I don’t suggest that you email them with your request, I have always found better results come from actually sending a letter.


**Antenato=Ancestor
Nonni = Grandparents, Nonno = Grandfather, Nonna = Grandmother
Bis Nonni = Great Grandparents
If birth place is unknown put “sconosciuto”= (unknown)

A request for the costs of them sending you the certificate (3) is mentioned but you can enclose around 10 Euros and use (4) take out the one you don’t wish to use.



Send to
Ufficio di Anagrafe
Comune di.......Place,
Italia


Egregi Signori:


Vi sarei estremamente grato se poteste effettuare una ricerca nei vostri registri e spedirmi il Atti di Matrimoni, dei miei **antenato or grandfather or great grandfather(Name of Groom)...........nato in (where born if known) e (Name of Bride)............nato in (where born if known).

Non sono sicuro della data del loro matrimonio, ma si tratta di circa dil ............approximate year.

(3) Vi prego di volermi comunicare l'ammontare dovuto per spese e postali nonché specificare il metodo di pagamento da voi preferito.

Or

(4) Accludo 10 euros, nel casa questa somma non fosse sufficiente, Vi prego di fami sapere quanto ancora ve devo.

Ringraziandovi anticipatamente per la Vostra attenzione.

Distinti Saluti
SIGN

.................................................................................
Translation:

Dear Sirs,

I would be extremely grateful if you could please check in your registers and send me a copy of the Marriage certificate for my**antenato=ancestor, Nonni =Grandparents** Bis Nonni = Great Grandparents, full name of Groom .......... born in (add place of birth if known........... and full name of Bride born in.......
I am unsure of the date of the marriage but it is around .....................give approx.year.

(3)Please let me know how much I owe you for any cost incurred and how you would like me to send the money.

Or

(4)I enclose 10 € for the expenses occurred, if this is insufficient please let me know and I will send the total sum as soon as possible

Thank you kindly for your help.
Yours Sincerely,


*
I hope that you receive a response to these free Italian translations, do let me know by leaving a comment.

Requesting copies of Birth Records

Using the simple rules that I have put below you should have no trouble with completing the letter. If you do get stuck please leave me a comment and I will reply as soon as possible. If you have any doubts as to where to write I suggest you read http://angloitaliangenresearch.blogspot.com/ where I explain how and where to research Italian Civil records.






If you know the exact date of birth, where the sentence says "il” (1) put full date of birth". If you only know the approximate year, the sentence should end (2) "circa nell'anno and take out “il” If the parents names are unknown then put “sconosciuto”.

Where there is a word ending in o/a in bold letters use the one ending in “o” if male and “a” for a female.

A request for the costs of them sending you the certificate (3) is mentioned but you can enclose around 10 Euros and use (4) take out the one you don’t wish to use.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ufficio di Stato Civile if very old or Ufficio di Anagrafe if more recent
Comune di Town
Street address,
Postal code, Town, Province
Italia

Date

Egregi Signori,

Mi chiamo ….Your name …… e sono residente …where you live include country.

Vi prego di voler ricercare nei vostri registri di Stato Civile l'Atti di Nascita del mio/mia antenato ……… your ancestors full name (surname first)......... e nato nel ........ town of birth..........il (1)or(2).full birth date if know or approx year, filglio/filglia di fu Fathers name....... e Name and surname of Mother if known........

Prego che, se possible, mi mandi una copia intergrali della sua certificate di nascita compresi qualunque annotazioni laterali.

Nel caso i documenti non esistessero per il periodo indicato, vi sarei grata se mi potessero essere comunicate altre fonti di informazione

add either of the below
(3) Vi prego di volermi comunicare l'ammontare dovuto per spese e postali nonché specificare il metodo di pagamento da voi
preferito.

Or

(4) Accludo 10 euros, nel casa questa somma non fosse sufficiente, Vi prego di fami sapere quanto ancora ve devo.


Ringraziandovi anticipatamente per la Vostra attenzione

signed by you

.....................................................................................


Translation of sample letter

Ufficio di Anagrafe
Comunue (Town)
Postal code
Italy

Date

Dear Sirs,

My name is …………….and I reside in ……………………..

Can you please search your vital records registers for the birth record of
my ancestor … name… born ….town….. date of birth or approx year, son/daughter of …. Fathers name and … mothers full name.
.

Please can you send me a complete copy of the birth certificate including any side notes in the margin.

If a record does not exist for this period I would appreciate it if you could inform me of any other sources of information.

(3)Please let me know how much I owe you for any cost incurred and how you would like me to send the money.
Or
(4)I enclose 10 € for the expenses occurred, if this is insufficient please let me know and I will send the total sum as soon as possible

I thank you very much for your assistance, with my kind regards.

........................................................................

You may also include an email address, they might reply faster than by post, although by experience I don’t suggest that you email them with your request, I have always found better results come from actually sending a letter.
I hope that you receive a response to these free Italian translations, do let me know by leaving a comment.