Help with dilema

[Meredith]

Hello, 
I'm hoping someone can give me advice about contacting a living relative.
I found on a death certificate of one of my husbands distant cousins who died in 2001 aged 99. the name & address of her niece.  What is the best way, should I write to her(assuming she is still at the same place) & explain that I I've been doing the family tree?  Or should I phone her?  I'm a little worried that she may not like how I got her details, even though they are on public record.

Thanks 

Meredith

[Jackienock]

Hi Meredith

Personally I would phone.

I have done this on a number of occasions and never yet got a rebuff.

If you have the wrong person, nothing lost and if it is the right one then it is up to them if they don't want to respond.

At least it saves all the time of waiting for the post and wondering why nothing has come back.

I always start my conversation with, "Sorry to trouble you, I wonder if you could help me please"

The request for help always seems to break the ice, for me anyway.

Best of luck

Robert

[Guy Etchells]

The time honoured method is to write giving brief details and explain your interest enclosing a stamped addressed envelope.
Wait six to eight weeks for a reply if no reply send a second request again enclosing a SAE and apologising for bothering her again.
If there is still no reply leave it find another source of information.

Do not telephone such contacts, that is normally viewed as an intrusion into their lives.
Cheers
Guy

[Wendi]

Meredith,

If there is a telephone number, I ring, along the lines Robert has said, to check that it is the right person, then I follow up with a letter explaining what I know about "our" side of the family.  Then call again about a week or 2 later to discuss it.

As far as I am concerned if they view the call as an intrusion into their lives, why do they have their telephone number in the Phone Book?

GOOD LUCK !