How to Find Information on People

Co-authored by Matthew Snipp, PhD

Last Updated: December 2, 2024 References

The internet can be a useful tool whether you want to reconnect with an old friend or classmate, find family members, or research a potential job candidate. Categories of personal information available online include: public records, blog posts or social network profiles, or published information such as news articles, wedding announcements, or obituaries. ^{[1]
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Research source} An alternative to the internet is to hire a private investigator, especially if you are trying to locate a missing person, confirm someone's identity, or obtain evidence for use in court. Ultimately, it is important to respect a person's privacy and be wary of discovering information that may be detrimental to yourself or others.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Searching for People Online

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1
Conduct a general search. Search engines, such as Google or Bing, are easy to use and free. Start with a simple search that includes the person's name plus the city and/or state where you last knew he or she lived.
- Keep your search simple. Put quotation marks around the name you are searching. This tells the search engine to only find pages that contain that exact name.
- Focus first on gathering all the free information that you can. Bookmark or save a list of the websites that require payment to pursue later.
2
Locate people using online people finders. You can look-up a home address or telephone number for free on Whitepages.com. If you are willing to pay a fee, websites such as Intelius.com or Spokeo.com provide access to a wider variety of sources and documents than traditional search engines or social networks. ^{[2]
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- You will need to know the person's full first and last name, as well as current or previous state or city of residence.
- Intelius and Spokeo provide some information for free, such as name, address, home phone number, age, and relatives.
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3
Access online historical archives and census data. This may be helpful if you are trying to find family members, living or deceased. ^{[3]
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Research source} The U.S.GenWeb Census Project provides free United States census data for many states up to 1940. ^{[4]
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- Most census records are grouped by state, so it is helpful to know the state in which the person was born, died, or lives.
- Contact a state or local historical association in which your target lived, especially if he or she died prior to the 1940s. Many historical documents, public records, and newspapers have not been digitized, and are only accessible as paper documents or on microfilm.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Locating People Through Social Media

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Understand how social media can help you. Over 70% of adults 18 years or older report are active on online social media. You can search major social networking sites to see if your target is an active member. In the United States, the most popular sites include Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
- Most social media sites allow you to search their content to find users or identify users associated with a certain company, institution, or geographic region. ^{[5]
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- Information on social networks is self-reported and as a result, may not be accurate. ^{[6]
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  Research source} The creation of fake or spam profiles on social media sites is on the rise, which can make it difficult to know if you are connecting with your target or someone else. ^{[7]
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People primarily use social media sites like Facebook to connect with family or friends. ^{[8]
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Trustworthy Source

Pew Research Center
Nonpartisan thinktank conducting research and providing information on public opinion, demographic trends, and social trends

Go to source} Type a person’s name plus additional information such as city of residence, place of work, or school into the search bar.
LinkedIn is one of the largest sites worldwide for professional networking. ^{[9]
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Research source} It is a good tool for finding information on a person’s career history and job interests. On the LinkedIn homepage, scroll to the bottom and next to "Find a Colleague" type a person's full first and last name.
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Use social media to find people from other countries. While Facebook has the most users worldwide, it is not the most popular social network site in every country.^{[10]
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Research source} Major social media sites specific to a country or region include QZone and Sina Weibo in China and VKontakte and Odnoklassniki in Russia and parts of the former Soviet Union ^{[11]
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- Be aware that these sites and their content may not be available in English.
- Content on these sites may be patrolled and censored by the government, especially in Russia and China.^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Accessing Online Public Records

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1
Locate state or county online public record repositories. Public records are created and maintained by government agencies. While the definition of public records varies by state to state, they are directed by law to be made available to the public, often upon formal request. ^{[13]
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- See if your state or county has a searchable online public records database. In Google or Bing, type the state or county plus “public records”. Next, search for specific public records (birth, death, marriage, divorce, etc.) within state or county webpages.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides links to state and county agencies that maintain vital records (births, deaths, divorces, marriages).^{[14]
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Trustworthy Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

Go to source} Go to the CDC.gov website and search for "where to write for vital records".
3
Research military service records through the National Archives. The National Archives provide resources for obtaining military personnel or medical records.^{[15]
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Research source} They provide a searchable database for records and documents in their collection from before World War I.
- Military service records can only be requested by a veteran or their next-of-kin.
- Casualty lists and records of medals, awards, and decorations up to the Vietnam War are also available on the webpage for the National Archives.^{[16]
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Find civil and criminal records online. Civil and criminal cases are handled at the county, state, and federal levels, so you will need to determine the relevant jurisdiction(s) when searching for case data. Civil cases refer to acts of negligence or disputes between organizations or individuals, while criminal cases are those that cause harm or violate privacy and safety.
- Search the county clerk’s office for criminal or civil court records. The county clerk maintains records for civil, small claims, and even criminal cases decided at the district or county level. In a search engine, type the county’s name and “criminal records” or “civil court records”. If known, you can also enter the appellate’s or defendant’s name or the case number.
- Track down inmate records through the state Department of Corrections (DOC). In a search engine, type the name of the state and “department of corrections”. In general, you should be able to find information such as an inmate’s DOC number, location of incarceration, and dates of incarceration.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Hiring a Private Investigator

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Private investigators (PIs) can be hired to find and analyze information regarding legal, personal, and financial matters. They offer services such as background checks, investigating suspected marital infidelities, conducting employment screenings, verifying a person's identity, finding missing people, and recovering stolen property.^{[17]
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Trustworthy Source

US Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. government agency that collects and reports labor-related information

Go to source} In most states, licensed PIs have passed pass the private investigator examination, be at least 25 years of age, and completed 3 years of professional experience.^{[18]
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Research source} They must also pass a criminal history and background check administered by the Department of Justice and FBI, and be licensed by the Department of Consumer Affairs.
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Choose a licensed private investigator. Be smart about who you hire. You can search for PI agencies in your area online or in the phone book. If you do not have prior experience with a particular agency, contact a consumer assistance group (e.g. Better Business Bureau). Ask about any complaints and/or the nature of complaints filed against an agency. You can also search online reviews from sites such as AngiesList.com.
- Compare prices and services offered by different companies.
- Interview a potential investigator. Ask them to show you their state-issued PI ID card. Record their name, license number, and expiration date.^{[19]
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- Validate their business or individual license by following-up with your state's Department of Consumer Affairs.
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Draft a contract. Once you select a PI, it is important to obtain a written contract This should include agreement on what services will be offered, a list of fees and payment obligations, and length of time service will be retained. The contract should also stipulate that the client will have access to evidence (recordings, videotapes, etc.) collected during the investigation. Finally, the PI is obligated to provide a final case report that includes results of the investigation, and cost and time spent on separate aspects of the case (e.g. surveillance, additional investigators, special equipment, stand-by time, etc.).
- Read the contract carefully and do not hesitate to ask questions.
- Stipulate a deadline by which all work will be completed.
- Request an itemized estimate of services to be offered as part of the contract, and have the company provide an official invoice and receipt.
- Keep a copy of the contract, invoices, and receipts in a single folder.

Expert Q&A

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Question

What is the main purpose of the census?

Matthew Snipp, PhD
Research Fellow, U.S. Bureau of the Census
C. Matthew Snipp is the Burnet C. and Mildred Finley Wohlford Professor of Humanities and Sciences in the Department of Sociology at Stanford University. He is also the Director for the Institute for Research in the Social Science’s Secure Data Center. He has been a Research Fellow at the U.S. Bureau of the Census and a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. He has published 3 books and over 70 articles and book chapters on demography, economic development, poverty and unemployment. He is also currently serving on the National Institute of Child Health and Development’s Population Science Subcommittee. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin—Madison.

Matthew Snipp, PhD

Research Fellow, U.S. Bureau of the Census

Expert Answer

It's used to determine the number of congressional seats in Congress given to each state. It's also very important in terms of being used by states to determine congressional districts and other sorts of legislative boundaries. It has a multitude of other uses, too—it serves as a benchmark for surveys, and it's an important source of information for enforcing civil rights legislation like the Voting Rights Act. It's also important for the reallocation of formula funding from the federal government. So, somewhere up in the neighborhood of 600 billion dollars is returned to the States every year based on the population counts taken from the census.

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Question

How can I find a newspaper article from the 1990's about someone?

Community Answer

Use the Google News archives. Go to Google, type in the info you are searching for, and hit "News." To the right, click "Tools," then click "Recent" and select a range of dates.

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Question

How can I find a photo of someone?

Community Answer

By searching for them online, you are likely to find information about them. By finding information on them online, you are very likely to find a photo of them.

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Tips

Many of the sites you find will require a fee. Weigh the value they bring to you over the effect of the outlay of cash. Needless to say, you will not want to pay all of them.

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To view or search content on social networking sites, you may need to sign-up as a member. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are free to register and use, and you can edit your profile and privacy settings.

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Copy information to a computer file or write it in a notebook as you find it. It may not seem important now, but later it will come in handy.

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Warnings

There is always the possibility of finding information that may be disturbing or upsetting to you or others.

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Beware of mistaken or false identity - many people use internet aliases on social networks rather than their real names. Search engines and social networking sites will never be as reliable as official public records.

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Some people are more difficult to find online than others. This can be due to having a common name, changing their name or using an alias, using an unlisted or unpublished number (most cell phones), or are deceased.

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Report any PI who violates their contract or engages in illegal activities to the FBI and Department of Consumer Affairs

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