This page provides information about how to search for missing persons, including runaways and abducted children, birth parents, servicemen and women, refugees, former classmates, persons in the criminal justice system or relatives from whom one has become estranged or who live overseas.

How do I begin the process of locating...

  1. An active duty serviceman or woman?
  2. Someone against whom I have a legal claim?
  3. A missing or abducted child or a runaway?
  4. A birth parent?
  5. A former classmate or lost love?
  6. Someone with whom I served in the military?
  7. A refugee?
  8. A close relative from whom I have become estranged?
  9. A relative who is a U.S. citizen and lives overseas?
  10. A relative, for purposes of doing genealogy?
  11. A friend or relative who is in prison?

1) How do I locate an active duty serviceman or woman?

In the case of  a family emergency, contact the American Red Cross.  Otherwise, consult one of the individual service member locators listed at the US Consumer Information Service web page, linked below. 

Useful Websites

AGENCIES, PROGRAMS & ORGANIZATIONS

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2) How do I locate someone against whom I have a legal claim?

This section provides an overview of resources useful in tracing persons whose whereabouts are unknown to you--someone, for example,  who owes you money.  Information that can lead to uncovering the whereabouts of an individual often appears in public records. It is estimated that about 25% of all public records are available online. Many localities do not yet offer this service.  Frequently, it is necessary to request public records by mail or telephone, or even to visit the office of the relevant agency or courthouse, in person.

Beyond public records (deeds, birth certificates, voter registrations) there is private information (unlisted telephone numbers, social security numbers). Commercial aggregators create and sell access to vast databases containing both kinds of information. For an overview of this industry, read the brief article, "The Public Record Primer" which appears in BRB Publications book, The Sourcebook to Public Record Information (352.387 S724 2002). The authors note, "The Social Security Number is the subject of a persistent struggle between privacy rights groups and various business interests. The truth is that many individuals gave up the privacy of their number by writing it on a voter registration form, product registration form, or any of a myriad of other voluntary disclosures made over the years. It is probable that a good researcher can legally find the Social Security Number of anyone (along with at least an approximate birth date) with some ease."

You may also find it helpful to read To Catch a Thief, an article from The Virtual Chase, a website frequented by legal professionals. The articles on people research and public records research are worth noting.

USEFUL WEBSITES

AGENCIES, PROGRAMS & ORGANIZATIONS

BOOKS

You may wish to consult the following books, available from the Dallas Public Library:

Browse articles from the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) that further explain how what you might regard as private information sometimes find its way into the public arena and illuminates some of the pitfalls one might guard against. A report from the FBI, Use and Management of Criminal History Record Information: A Comprehensive Report, 2001 Update,  further highlights problems with criminal records in particular.  See also the subsequent report, Improving Criminal History Records for Background Checks: National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP).

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3) How do I locate a missing or abducted child or a runaway?

The following resources have been selected as a starting point to assist parents who have experienced the tragedy of a child abduction or who have a child who is a runaway. As the Team Hope organization, linked below, notes, "According to Federal law, the police are obligated to take the missing persons report and enter the information into the NCIC (National Crime Information Center) without a waiting period. If you encounter problems reporting your child as missing, please share these laws with your police department."

USEFUL WEBSITES

AGENCIES, PROGRAMS & ORGANIZATIONS

Books

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4) How do I locate a birth parent?

A number of resources exist to aid those in search of birth parents, including books, websites, adoption registries, and "search angels" (who do research for free).  A selected few of these are highlighted below. The Texas Adoption Registry, hosted by Gladney Adoption Center, may be of particular interest to those who were adopted in Texas.

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AGENCIES, PROGRAMS & ORGANIZATIONS

Books

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5) How do I locate a former classmate or lost love?

Many high schools maintain their own websites, which sometimes include information about forthcoming reunions or provide a registry service that enables alumnae to get in touch with each other.  If your high school is still operating, try searching for it on the Web. (Links to directories, organized by State, appear below.)

USEFUL WEBSITES

Books

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6) How do I locate someone with whom I served in the military or find information about someone who is an MIA?

Several military publications regularly publish ads from veterans seeking to get in touch with others with whom they served.  These include Shift Colors (Navy), Leatherneck Magazine (Marine Corps) and other veterans magazines.  A wide array of websites, most of which require registration, also track reunions of Army units, Navy ships, etc.

USEFUL WEBSITES

Military Reunions

MIA's / POW's

BOOKS

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7) How do I locate a refugee or assist a refugee in becoming reunited with his or her family?

    A Red Cross website notes:  "The American Red Cross works with other members of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement around the world and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to locate missing loved ones during or after war, civil unrest, or a disaster in another country. Not only do we accept tracing requests from residents who lost contact with family members overseas, but we also search locally for people whose overseas relatives believe last resided in our county. Our national headquarters in Washington, D.C., acts as the conduit to and from other Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the ICRC. As with all international services, this tracing service is provided free of charge."

Note that the Red Cross cannot accept requests when there is insufficient information to conduct a search; or when it is for genealogical research; or tracing regarding legal matters such as wills, child custody etc.; or the tracing of birth parents or third party requests. To begin a search, call your local American Red Cross chapter.

Agencies such as the Red Cross, International Rescue Committee and UN High Commissioner for Refugees coordinate the reunification of persons who have sought asylum.  There are also services that work to assist individuals searching for information about relatives who were separated during the holocaust.

USEFUL WEBSITES

AGENCIES, PROGRAMS & ORGANIZATIONS

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8) How do I locate a close relative from whom I have become estranged?

If you know the person's Social Security Number, the Social Security Administration "will forward letters under circumstances involving a matter of great importance, such as a death or serious illness in the missing person's immediate family, or a sizeable amount of money that is due the missing person."  See their web site for details, conditions and fees. 

The Salvation Army also operates an international locator service for the purpose of trying to restore (or sustain) family relationships, by locating relatives who for various reasons have become out of touch. To seek this assistance, you must contact the regional office in your area. The majority of requests is for help in tracing a divorced spouse on behalf of young children who want to make contact with their estranged parent.

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) publishes a useful guide, linked below, for parents and loved ones trying to reach homeless and mentally ill children and relatives. To identify local support groups and service agencies, Dallas area residents should consult our Community Information Database, using homeless as a subject heading.

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Books

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9) How do I locate a relative who is a U.S. citizen and lives overseas?

There are situations -- a civil disturbance, the outbreak of war, a family emergency -- when it becomes imperative for families to reach their children or other close family members who are U.S. citizens and living abroad.  The Department of State operates an Office of Citizens Services, linked below, which can be very helpful in such circumstances. In other cases, it may be more appropriate to contact the American Red Cross.

AGENCIES, PROGRAMS & ORGANIZATIONS

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10) How do I locate a relative, for purposes of doing genealogy?

Located on the 8th floor of the J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, our genealogy division is regularly cited as being among the top public libraries in the country for doing genealogical research. (Please note that many of the human services agencies listed on this web page, such as the Red Cross and Salvation Army, explicitly state that they do not wish to be approached by genealogists.) The books cited below are merely suggestive of the range of resources available.

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Books

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11) How can I locate a friend or relative who is in prison?

Individuals who have been incarcerated in the Federal or in State prison systems can often be located by contacting the relevant locator services, linked below.  Dallas area residents can search the Library's Community Information Database using the subject term ex-offenders to locate agencies and nonprofit organizations who are engaged in providing support and assistance of various kinds.

AGENCIES, PROGRAMS & ORGANIZATIONS

Books

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