Finding a long lost relative or family member isn't just the stuff of movies and fiction. For a variety of reasons, family members often lose track of loved ones without ever being able to reunite. However, with increased access to communications technology and online databases, finding a lost family member is becoming easier day by day. Though there is no guarantee you can find a missing person, you can take specific steps to give yourself the best chance of reuniting with your family.
Step 1
Gather information. Get all the information you can get about the person, such as date of birth, Social Security number, known addresses, names and addresses of friends and previous employers. Begin with your own collected info, and then reach out to family members and friends. Keep everything collected in one place with records or copies of important documents. College and school information can also be helpful.
Step 2
Use the information you gather for an Internet search. Start by searching for the family member's name, or name in conjunction with an address of employer. Find the contact information for the employer and ask for any help he can provide.
Step 3
Contact the police. If your family member is a missing person, you can often contact your local police department for assistance. Call the police in your local area, but do not call 911. Call the police department directly and ask about help for missing persons.
Step 4
Contact a private investigator. The police may or may not be able to help you, but you can hire a private investigator to track down your family member on your behalf. These investigators use investigation tools you may not possess or have experience with and can be quite helpful in finding lost persons. Contact local investigators and negotiate a price and terms of service before you enter into an agreement.
Step 5
Contact an attorney. You may encounter legal roadblocks in your search for public records or private company information. Contact a local attorney for legal advice if and when these problems arise. You can't always get the information you want, but an attorney can often help you.
