Account for the relationship as it is now
Use a tone that fits the present relationship, not the closeness, authority, or access that existed in the past. For a message about how to set social media boundaries with an ex, use this factual base: list the item, account, lease, pet, vehicle, date, or legal document that still connects you.
Ask without assigning an obligation
Explain what you hope for while making decline, delay, or a different format genuinely acceptable. Offer limited options, a neutral exchange method, and a date for closing the practical issue. Make the immediate next step clear enough that the recipient can answer without reconstructing the entire history.
Keep the ending honest
Do not attach relationship arguments to a logistics message or arrive uninvited. Use a third party, public exchange, legal channel, or specialist support when direct contact is unsafe or restricted. Avoid future promises, guilt, flattery, or nostalgia that imply the recipient owes you access.