The Best Way to Find Someone Online

by Elizabeth Dearborn

Overview

This article presents ideas on how to go about finding someone online who used to be in your life, but now the two of you have lost touch. The person may or may not want to reestablish contact with you. Think not of just the obvious facts such as name, physical description and date of birth, but nicknames, favorite phrases, and shared experiences. Online references to these search terms can lead you to getting back in contact.

Which way did he go?
Searching Public Records

The Social Security Death Index is a database of all deaths reported to the Social Security Administration since 1962, when death records were computerized. The absence of a particular death record does not necessarily mean the person is still alive. Newspaper obituary notices in the person's last place of residence can also be checked. Property tax assessment records are now online in many jurisdictions and can help locate property owners. Addresses and phone numbers for licensed professionals such as doctors, lawyers and engineers can often be found by searching the records of the state licensing authority. The website of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, as well as many state and county websites, offer prison inmate searches online.

Schools and Jobs

If you know when the person graduated and the name of the high school or college, check online for alumni newsletters or information on upcoming class reunions. Professional association and corporate Web sites often provide contact information for people within the organization.
Hobbies and Interests

Most people have at least one hobby or special interest, and this can help you in your quest. For example, if the person you're looking for plays pedal steel guitar, check online listings of country music shows. You may see the person's name, photo, the name of the band if he's in one, and the venues where he is scheduled to appear. Or perhaps the person has always struggled with a weight problem, or she loves ice skating. There are thousands of other possibilities. If none of these searches have turned up anything, did the person always dream of moving to a faraway place or following a different career path? Check the online expatriate communities and the chat rooms for people who have moved away from their home town.