How to Find Out Where Someone Lives

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Last Updated: December 5, 2024 Fact Checked

Maybe you want to send a card or invitation and couldn't find the address, or maybe you dropped by a friend's house for a surprise visit to find a different person who lived in the house. These are only a few reasons why people need addresses. Whether it's looking for lost addresses or finding old friends, finding where someone lives can be easy.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Finding an Address With the Internet

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1
Use reverse phone look-up tools. Internet sites can help you plug in a phone number and find a potential address match for the person that you seek.^{[1]
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Research source} Both Yellow Pages and White Pages offer this service.
- When looking up people's personal information on the internet, you run into privacy issues. Locating someone's address and showing up uninvited can be considered stalking or a breach in privacy.
2
Search the White Pages. White Pages allows you to search if you know the person's name and the town or state in which the person lives. Using this tool, you can also find their phone number. By obtaining their phone number, you can contact them and ask them for their address.
- If you are trying to find someone internationally, try using White Pages International or [1]. It offers details on look-up information in 6 continents and over 33 countries.
- When searching for someone online, you might need to try searching for their names in different ways. Try searching for them by nicknames, maiden names, and birth names.
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3
Use social networking sites. Social networking sites generally list the city where people are living. Many sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, use GPS to post the location of a person when they make a post. While these social media sites might not give you the direct address, they can provide you with a way to get in touch with the person to ask them yourself. Try sites such as Facebook, Reunion.com, Batchmates, Classmates.com, Pipl.com, and Linkedin.
- Many of the social media websites require users to create accounts and log in to view other member information. Some of the sites, such as Facebook, require friend requests to be accepted by the person before you can view their personal information.^{[2]
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- Searching for people on social media websites can be considered cyberstalking. Cyberstalking is "defined as using the Internet or other electronic means as a way to harass, intimidate, threaten, monitor or make unwanted advances towards another." This includes e-mail and interaction via social media sites, like Facebook; furthermore, secretly watching or gathering information about a person can also be considered cyberstalking.^{[3]
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  Research source} Many cyberstalkers begin by tracking their victims via the internet, many times through social media. When you are searching for people through social media, be careful to not cross any boundaries.
Sites like Lostfriends.org are specifically tailored to help people find people they have lost touch with. You can post a message on the website, or peruse the website to see if anyone is looking for you.
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Pay someone to help you. If these free ways are not giving you any results, there are multiple sites that can give you a more detailed report on a person for a small fee. These sites include Public Libraries' Public Records, Intelius, People Finders, and Instant Checkmate.
- Use caution when using these websites. These websites state that they access public records, but this level of investigation into someone's personal information can be considered a serious invasion of privacy.
Michael Bazzell, Privacy Consultant and Off-the-Grid Living Expert

When seeking someone's address, thoughtfully examine your reasons. If they arise from good intentions, transparently convey why you need this location. Use public records and directories responsibly, never misrepresenting your purpose.^{[4]
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Research source} If unable to ethically obtain the information, consider respecting that individual's privacy rights.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Finding an Address Without the Internet

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1
Use a phone book. Start the search by using a local phone book to look up a name and address. Many people and businesses can be found listed with their phone number and address. You can also use the phone number to contact the person to verify their address.
- If you know the name of the place where the person works, you can look up the address or phone number of their place of employment. You might be able to contact the person at work to ask them for their home address.
2
Use alumni directories. Contact your high school and/or university to find an address, or purchase your copy of a directory.
- Many schools also have online databases, message boards, social media groups, and e-mail mailing lists. You might be able to reach out to people through these means to find information about the person.
- Most alumni associations have presidents or representatives that can be contacted for information. They might be able to point you in the right direction. If you were part of organizations with the person, you can try contacting those organizations to see if they have directories or mailing lists.
One of the easiest ways to find out where someone lives is to ask mutual friends or family. Talk to people who might still live in their hometown or be in touch with them on a regular basis. They might have a forwarding address for the person or a phone number where he or she can be located.

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Question

Can I find someone's address with their license plate?

Community Answer

It's unlikely, but you can call your local DMV to try and find out who the plate is registered to.

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How do I find out if someone lives at the address I have for them?

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Ideally, if you can't find current records, you would just call the number associated with that address and ask if that person still lives there. You could also go in person, but some people might be uncomfortable with this if they don't know you.

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How can I find someone using a phone number?

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The internet. Search for the phone number on various websites, and you should be able to find that person easily.

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Warnings

Realize that you are being disrespectful if you invade someone's privacy by discreetly finding out where they live if you are still in contact and/or they have no intentions of giving you their address and/or any other personal information.^{[5]
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Research source}

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If the person does not know you, realize that you may come across as a stalker.

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The laws for stalking begin at the federal level with federal stalking laws, and each state has its individual stalking laws. Although the laws vary from state to state, stalking is a crime. Fourteen states consider the first offense of stalking a felony. When looking for someone's address, remember never to invade their privacy.

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It's probable that when you reach the address you obtained, you won't find them or you'll find someone else. This shows that they have moved.

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