adoptive parents

For many, the Holidays are a magical time made up of family, friends and fond memories. But what if someone near and dear is missing from your life? If you have lost touch with a special person and want to reconnect this holiday season, the Internet may hold valuable clues to their whereabouts.

Years ago, locating someone required a lot of legwork, some detective skills and a little luck for good measure. Today, there are online tools, sites and services to aide in the process. The key is to get organized, use the right tools and get started sooner rather than later.

1. Gather together any and all information you may know about the person. Begin with the basics, such as name, birth date, mother’s maiden name or last known address. If those details are limited, make a list of anyone who might have knowledge about their whereabouts, such as childhood friends, relatives or old neighbors. Each person on the list may hold an important clue to helping you achieve your goal.
2. Although Google or Facebook may seem like an obvious place to start, the volume of information you receive can be overwhelming, unproductive and even discouraging. To bypass quantity and go straight to quality data, tap into public records. A social security number can unlock a goldmine of home, work and personal records, but even a single email address or phone number can produce valuable insight.With the exception of juvenile files, adoptions and financial records, public information is available for anyone to view. What once required a trip to the city or county clerk’s office is now available at your fingertips from companies that bring this information together as a service, such as Intelius (www.intelius.com).
3. If your special someone is, or might be, homeless or does not want to be found, your search could require some serious sleuthing. Since no national database exists for this population, your phone skills, patience and ingenuity will be key. Check online for a list of shelters, community organizations and churches in the area you believe they may reside and track down anyone with whom they may have had contact. Share photographs, create a ‘Missing’ poster or consider an ad in a local paper or online website such as craigslist. Keep in mind that this population is mobile and that your search may take you to places you have yet to imagine.
4. Once you secure contact information, consider carefully the best method for reconnecting. If you have time and reason to believe that your special someone may not be as interested in connecting as you are, send a letter to the last known address to break the ice. Explain your interest, provide contact information and give them the opportunity to respond. Always mark the envelope, “Forwarding Address Requested,” so the post office can forward or return your letter if their address is unknown.

Reconnecting with a special someone could be the best gift possible for the holidays, but it may also present challenges and even disappointment. Today’s online tools make the process easier than ever before, but it still takes time and patience to undergo a search. 

Keep in mind that you may locate someone who does not want to be found or may not be ready to reconnect as quickly as you are. Take heart. You will never know until you get started.

Set your expectations and cherish the peace of mind gained from the journey. If you locate your loved one, celebrate the joy of having them back in your heart, if not your home, during this special season.