How to say "the relatives" in French?

[Susan McEwan]

Dear friends,

Chers amis,

I would like to know what is the best way of saying "relatives" in French.  When I was at school and university several years ago, the teachers mentioned "Parents" ; is there another way...for the general term?  

What is used in the context of a "genealogical tree"/family?

Merci de votre attention,

Susan McEwan, tutor of French.

[George Hunt]

I am not sure .Would "un apparenté" work?

[Chantal Savignat]

"les parents", "la famille" aussi

but in the context of a genealogical tree,

we use  "les ancêtres"  for parents, grandparents,  and all relatives born before someone, and "les descendants" for children, grandchildren and all children born before someone, and "un collatéral - des collatéraux" for uncle, cousins and all people in another branch of the tree.  (and then you can mix  "les descendants des collatéraux" = children and grandchildren of your cousin)

in the context of family,  "apparenté"  is more commonly used as adjective,  not as a noun.  It could be used as a noun but rather in a technical scientist document or in a literary book.