GUIDELINES
- Provide a brief introduction about yourself. You may include your current profession as well as some information regarding your relationship with the person in question.
- Write an honest account of information's you have regarding the person the letter is referring to. Information may include the person's job, your observations about his relationship with his child/children, and other pertinent details that will allow the judge to get a grasp of how capable the person is in terms of fulfilling his role as a parent.
- Leave your contact details, in case more detailed information is required.
SAMPLE LETTER
[Address line]
[State, ZIP Code]
[Letter Date]
[Address line]
[State, ZIP Code]
[Subject: Normally bold, summarizes the intention of the letter] -Optional-
Dear [Recipients Name],
Good day. My name is Clara Clarks. I currently hold the position of Preschool Coordinator at Philips Children's Center. My job involves not only managing the curriculum used for teaching preschoolers but also communicating with the parents of our students. I am therefore writing to share my observations of one of the parents in our community, Mr. Gerald Allen.
During the past two years, I have witnessed Mr. Allen take a keen interest in the education of his son, Phil. He has been consistent in picking up his son after school and has even volunteered several times to help organize activities for the children and their parents. As far as I know, he is gainfully employed, as well. As such, I have no reason to believe that he cannot care for his son adequately.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my knowledge. Should you need further information, please contact me at 555-5555.
Sincerely,
[Senders Name]
[Senders Title] -Optional-
[Enclosures: number] - Optional -
cc: [Name of copy recipient] - Optional -
Character reference for a parent seeking child custody.
Further things to consider when writing reference letters to whom it may concern
Reference Letters
Reference letters are letters written to endorse someone's general character and personality. A reference letter differs from a recommendation letter in that the latter supports the person's application for a specific job or education program and is usually addressed to a particular person. A reference letter is more general in nature, refers to the overall character of the person, and is not addressed to anyone in particular. It is normally addressed as "Dear sir/madam," or "To whom it may concern." The person who writes the reference letter is known as the referee, and he/she could be a close friend or colleague.
For you to write good reference letters, you need to know the candidates well to be able to express their best character. Start off with a salutation and the name of the person the letter is about. Write a sentence or two explaining how you know the person and for how long. Mention the strong qualities, characteristics, and strengths of the person in question. Giving brief examples, discuss why you feel the person will be a great addition to office and work culture. Use strong verbs but do not exaggerate. Conclude with your contacts and signature.
Letters to Whom It May Concern
Letters to whom it may concern are letters addressed to unknown recipients. The term "To whom it may concern" is, basically, a letter salutation that has been used over the years in business correspondence when a sender doesn't have a specific recipient or doesn't know the name of the recipient. This may happen many times during your job search. For instance, you may be sending a recommendation letter, cover letter or any other job application material to someone you don't know. It is also appropriate to address a letter to whom it may concern if you're making an inquiry but don't know who to address your letter to.
Although sending letters to whom it may concern has been a common practice, other options such as, "To hiring manager", "To customer service manager", etc., can be used at the start of a letter. Of course, you should make an effort to find the recipient's name. You can look it up on the recipient's company website, LinkedIn or other professional social sites, or contact the office and ask the assistant for advice. However, when this is not possible, you can still use "To whom it may concern".
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