 Offer to send them a pedigree chart or family tree chart starting with them as proof that you're "legit", and as a token of appreciation for any help they can give you in adding to your tree. I used to give out entire descendant reports, but soon realized that was not a good idea, and I now give out family trees and pedigree charts with just them and their direct line. If I happen to have any photos of their direct line ancestors, I share those as well. People are more willing to give info when you share with them as well, and sometimes giving them a family tree or pedigree of them and their direct line as a gift, will cause them to get super excited about their family history, and in turn want to give you as much info as they can. :)
 To hopefully break the ice, and get them to be more willing to give you information, let them know exactly who you are right away, and how you are related to them. Also make sure you can give their parent's, and at least grandparent's names, and further if possible. Then tell them your line, and exactly how that line fits into their family tree, so they know you're not and I.D. thief/scam artist ;)
  After you've found a living descendant, you can write a letter, email, message them on Facebook, or call them. Even though the preferred method is to write a letter, so they have a little time to decide if they want to reach out to you, I seem to always call because it's the quickest method, and to be honest (even though it's sad), who writes letters anymore. :)
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AuthorHi, I'm Diane Henriks, a Professional Genealogist and investigator who uses advanced deductive reasoning and logical constructs to thoroughly investigate a case, with a specialty in finding living descendants in family trees, and have worked closely with private investigators to find living people, while also assisting in background Categories
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