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How to find a long-lost relative

Long-lost relatives-it’s fascinating to know that your family can be found anywhere in the world. Your mother, father, and siblings may be living on an entirely different continent, and for decades they didn’t even know about you. You thought your parents might not love you anymore when they separated from their partner and went away? Or when they divorced some years ago because of frequent arguments? Maybe even after they have passed away? However, much to your surprise, you’ll find out they are still alive and waiting for you to call them.

How to Find a long-lost relative

How to find a lost relative in usa

To locate a missing friend or relative, try using people search websites like Pipl, Zabasearch, and YoName, which search social networking sites, blogs, and other potential places where their name may appear. Private investigators can also be helpful and utilize their resources to conduct a thorough search. It’s important to be vigilant and consider all available options.

How do I find a long-lost family member? Things to keep in mind

  1. Difficulty locating information: Depending on the time that has passed, you may need help finding any information related to your relative. Many records may have disappeared or become inaccessible due to age and changing technology. Tip: Connect with a private investigator!
  2. Conflicting information: You may find information that contradicts other records, making it difficult to confirm the facts. When doing a Google search, you may find differing search results.
  3. Outdated records: Many records, such as birth and marriage certificates, may need to be updated or recovered, making it difficult to trace family history.
  4. Complex family trees: If your relative has a large family, it may be challenging to identify the family’s correct branch and track down the right person.
  5. Language barriers: If your relative is from another country, you may need help accessing records in another language.
  6. Privacy laws: Some countries have strict privacy laws that may make it challenging to access records without permission.

How do you find a family member you haven’t seen in years? Where to start

Below is how you can begin searching for lost relatives and some steps you need to follow.

Gather enough information to find lost relatives

Begin by gathering as much information as possible about the relative you are looking for. This includes their full name, date of birth, and any other identifiers, such as a Social Security number if you have one.

You may also need details about their profession, their employers, and the schools they attended. At some point, minor details like shoe size, height, eye color, and tattoos might strengthen the odds of traceability.

Start your search on Google.

Google search engine can be an excellent tool for finding a long-lost friend or relative. These tips may help you get the most out of your search:

  1. Start with basic search terms. Use the person’s name, nickname, available details about them, and other related terms.
  2. Try searching on social platforms. These days, many people have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other accounts.
  3. Use Google’s advanced search features. You can narrow down the results by adjusting the date range and using other parameters.
  4. Try searching for them on public record sites. These sites often have detailed information about people, including marriage and divorce records, birth records, and more.
  5. If you have a specific address, try searching for it on Google Maps. This can help you better understand the area and determine if your loved one still lives there.

Google Alerts is a great tool to use if you’re trying to find a long-lost friend or relative. If what you are searching for is not showing up, you can set up a Google alert. You can set up an alert to be notified whenever new information about your friend or relative is mentioned online. This could include mentions of their name, address, or other identifying information.

Set up alerts for specific websites or topics related to the search. This should help you stay on top of the latest information and quickly identify potential leads.

How do you find a missing relative? Can social media be useful?

Social media is excellent when finding long-lost friends and relatives. Several websites and apps allow users to search for people by name, location, or other criteria. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are some of the most popular social media sites for these searches. Additionally, many websites have search engines that allow users to search for people across multiple sites.

LinkedIn is also an excellent resource for finding people, allowing users to search by job title, field of expertise, and even school. Finally, many genealogy websites can be used to search for long-lost relatives, as they often contain extensive databases of family trees and other information.

However, only some people are on social media. Plus, sorting through all available information can take time and effort. Additionally, many people still need to have their profile information publicly, so getting accurate information about someone can be challenging. Again, some people who have had a past negative experience with a friend or relative may have deleted their social media accounts, making it difficult to locate them. Finally, there may be inaccuracies in the available information, which can lead to false leads and wasted time.

Look through phone directories.

Your long-lost relative may not be on social media, but it’s best to assume they still use mobile networks. Although many cities have discontinued their printed telephone directories, some are available online. If a city still has a printed version, it may be available in the reference section of a local library.

The website of the local telephone service provider should have a list of available printed directories. In addition to looking through the directory, contacting the local telephone service provider may be helpful for any additional information. If a person has moved to a different city, then it may be a good idea to look for directories for other cities as well. Note that telephone directories note whether the relative you are looking for is dead or alive.

How do I find a long-lost family member? Try out Paid Databases

There are many paid databases available that can be used to help locate long-lost friends or relatives. These databases often contain detailed personal information such as address histories, phone numbers, email addresses, social security numbers, and other relevant information.

  1. Intelius is a comprehensive search database that offers searches of public records, background checks, reverse phone lookups, and more.
  2. PeopleFinders is a search platform that allows users to search for individuals by name, address, phone number, email address, and more.
  3. PeopleSmart is a search platform that provides access to public records, background checks, and other personal information.
  4. BeenVerified: A search database that allows users to search for individuals by name, address, and phone number
  5. PeopleSearchNow is a search platform that provides access to public records, background checks, and other personal information.
  6. SpyFly is a search platform that offers access to public records, background checks, and other personal information.
  7. TruthFinder is a search platform that provides access to public records, background checks, and other personal information.
  8. InstantCheckmate: A search platform that allows users to search for individuals by birth records, marriage records, death records, and property records. These records provide additional information that may be useful in locating your friend or relative.

Note that these databases may give you over fifty leads. It’s not easy, but you must write them down and follow up on each. Also, remember to look for employed but lost relatives on Archive.org or Yearbooks, criminal repositories, and genealogical records.

Can you Leverage obituaries to find a family member?

When trying to find a long-lost relative, being able to trace your family tree is a good start. Obituary databases are one of the best ways to find out if someone you’ve lost touch with has died. If you were born before 1970, the death certificate might be the only way to find out where they are buried (although some states will provide more information).

You can also search birth and marriage records online to see if someone close to you has died. If you were born after 1970, obituaries in local newspapers often include details of who has died in the area and when. They can also

contain contact details for funeral homes, so it’s worth looking through these if possible.

Most newspapers and magazines have listings of obituaries in the “Death Notices” section. You can also search online for your relative’s name at obits.com, which provides a list of newspapers that carry obituaries. Obituary databases are available from Ancestry and Legacy. The Social Security Administration (SSA) website contains searchable databases of death certificates filed by the SSA since 1950. The SSA records include both federal death records and vital state records so that you may find your relative’s information there-even if they weren’t born or resided in the U.S., You could also use their online search tool to access these records (see “Vital Records Search”).

Finally, consider using FamilySearch. It allows you to search for family members using the Family Tree Builder interface built into FamilySearch membership levels ($19-$99) or through the free “FamilySearch Record Search” feature on their website (see “Useful Record Search Tools”).

How do you find a family member you haven’t seen in years? How is a DNA Kit helpful?

A DNA kit is one of the best ways to find a long-lost relative. It is only sometimes possible to use this method in all cases. The process can be expensive, and it takes time to successfully find your long-lost relative with a DNA kit. However, if you can afford the cost and have the patience, this is one of the best ways to find a long-lost relative.

You will need to order a DNA kit from your local DNA testing company or online at websites like FamilyTreeDNA or 23andMe. You will have to provide someone who knows your family history with this information and your Social Security Number (SSN). Go through the instructions on sending in saliva samples and get back your results in a few weeks or months.

Your results will show whether or not you have any relatives who share genetic markers. You can also see if any other matches may help narrow down their location.

Checkmate: How to find a long-lost relative

If you are looking for a more comprehensive approach to finding a long-lost friend or relative, consider hiring a private investigator. Private investigators offer various services, such as background checks, locating missing persons, and surveillance. They can also utilize various resources to help you find the person you want. Private investigators typically charge an hourly fee, so discuss the cost before hiring one. Also, ask the private investigator if they can provide successful case studies or references.

Have a Question on Background Searches?

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I’ve represented individuals and businesses (international and local) for close to fifty years, and I’ve called on Martin Investigative Services more times than I can count, often on a rush basis, for help throughout the world, on a number of different types of assignments.  I’ve never been disappointed.  I’ve always received swift, cost-effective and USEFUL information, which has wound up “saving the bacon” of our clients and making us shine in their eyes.  I recommend them without any reservation.

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