Finding long-lost relatives is getting increasingly easier. There was once a time when our only search tools were the white pages and library microfilm. With the Internet, it's near impossible to lose touch with friends and family. You have to try incredibly hard to keep your name from popping up on a search site like USSearch.com. And if you thought your older relatives would never use a social networking site, consider this statistic: 10 percent of Twitter users are between ages 55 and 64.
Step 1
Call their cell phone. People keep cell phone numbers for years. If they have a different number, chances are that one of their siblings or parents has the same number. Find them through an immediate family member.
Step 2
Contact family members. Put out calls and letters to as many family members you have access to. You never know who will still have contact with long-lost relatives.
Step 3
Go to social-networking websites online. Search Facebook, MySpace, Yelp and Meetup. If your family member has a profile, even if his security settings are high and you cannot contact them personally, you'll be able to send a message through the website.
Step 4
Go to USSearch.com. Type in the person's first and last name and just one city he lived in--it doesn't even need to be his current city of residence. A rudimentary search will yield his age, siblings and other relatives, current location and past locations. For a fee, you can get a phone number, address and even public domain records.
Step 5
Search a military website if your relative spent time in the armed services. GISearch.com and Military.com will locate current and retired personnel. Vietvet.org/lostfnd.htm will link you with Vietnam vets. If you're looking for a long deceased relative, check the National Archives (see Resources) for family members who served in past wars like the Revolutionary and Civil War.
Step 6
Search the Federal Bureau of Prisons website if the person ever spent time in jail. The database has information on both convicts and ex-convicts. You will need the name as it appears on his or her birth certificate.
Step 7
Send a letter to the last known address the relative lived. One of a few things could happen: He's still there; the person left recently enough to have the letter forwarded; or he's so long gone that the new resident just tosses the letter. In anticipation of not reaching your relative, avoid writing personal information.
Step 8
Look for the person on a search engine like Bing, Yahoo and Google. Try every combination of his name you can think of. If you're looking for a Michael, try Mike as well. If his last name is easily misspelled, like Connor or Conner, try as many combinations as you can think of. For women, search their maiden and married names.
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