Step 4
by Laura Vryhof
Step 4 – Begin Your Search
Begin with a few basic tools
First the US Postal Service.
Most government agencies are zealous in protecting people’s privacy and will be hesitant to give up information. You will need to make them aware that you only want to contact this person and not invade their privacy.
The mailing device which allows you to do this is called a letter of inquiry. Many agencies will not respond to a phone call from someone trying to find a person but most will accept and answer your letter of inquiry.
Sample letters are provided in our tools to help you begin to create an inquiry kit. This is what you will send to various agencies.
Many of these records are now online and links are provided on our resources page.
Directories
Don’t overlook the most logical tool when you begin your search; the phone book. Many times a search is made more difficult by not using the easiest method at hand. This is ground zero for any search and the great thing is that phone directories are available online.
Another great directory tool is a Criss-Cross directory. These are available by city and list every street in a community alphabetically and in sequence and provide names and listed phone numbers for each address.
The second half of the directory lists phone numbers by prefix so if you have only a phone number this is a good resource as are reverse directories available online.
A good way to get your hands on a criss-cross without buying it is to enlist the aid of a sympathetic real estate agent. Many real estate agencies use these directories to help find listings and one of them might let you look at their copy.
Social Networking Sites
Social networking websites are a great new tool for people searches. Facebook and MySpace are the best places to start.
Millions of people are using them to keep up with family and friends and to reconnect with old acquaintances that you might hit pay dirt there. Even if you don’t find the person you are looking for, you may find someone who is related to them and knows where they are.
If you have followed the steps so far, you will have made your decision, set your strategy, determined which records you will need and now you are ready to begin.
Putting It All Together
Now that you know what agencies to use, the question becomes, what tools do I use to contact them.
Remember that you must respect your subject’s right to privacy in all correspondence.
You have the right to search for someone, and they have the right not to be found. Their personal information should never be divulged to the people you talk to during your search.
One of the best tools are a letter of inquiry along with an inquiry kit.
Decide which public or private agency might have information and choose one of our sample letters.
These agencies could include:
- Veterans Administration
- Social Security Administraton
- a state vital statistics office
- an insurance company
- licensing bureau
Most government agencies will not give you any information directly, but will usually forward to the subject the stamped postcard you will provide them with.
- Write a short, clear letter of inquiry (*see sample letters) addressed to the director or supervisor of the agency.
- Enclose a copy of your subject profile and any information that would relate directly to the agency you are contacting, such as military background for the Veterans Administration.
- Enclose a plain, stamped postcard with a short, clear message to your subject. Include your contact information including phone number and leave the front of the card blank so that the agency can fill in the address.
The letter of inquiry a subject profile and postcard make up an inquiry kit.
It is best if you handwrite or print your letter and postcard because it will get the attention of the agency official quicker than printed material will. Make sure it is legible.
Handwritten letters seem more heartfelt and this will highlight the personal nature of your search.
Phone Directories
Most libraries keep several years of past directories on hand and will contact or help you contact reference librarians in whatever location you may have tracked a subject to.
Also online phone directories can be helpful.
You may choose to call each person in an area with the same last name as your subject in case you turn up a relative who will give you information.
You may find that relatives are not as likely to give this information to you if they feel you are a threat in any way.
Social Networking Sites
Sign up for an account and follow the directions to search by name, school or area. You may find your subject or a relative in a very short time. Social networking sites include facebook and myspace.
Internet Record Search Sites
These sites are tools that can help you access several types of records at one time, there are some good ones listed on our resources page.
Most of the records we mention in these pages are available on these websites for a fee.
Depending on the parameters of your search the websites may be more expensive than doing your search by mail but take far less time.
With the rising cost of postage, the internet can actually be less expensive than a mail search if you need to contact a lot of agencies. Internet searches are one of the best tools you can use.
These sites are tools that can help you access several types of records at one time, there are some good ones listed on our resources page.
Most of the records we mention in these pages are available on these websites for a fee.
Depending on the parameters of your search the websites may be more expensive than doing your search by mail but take far less time.
With the rising cost of postage, the internet can actually be less expensive than a mail search if you need to contact a lot of agencies. Internet searches are one of the best tools you can use.
