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Other sources of help

If you are looking for someone but do not know their full date of birth
If you are looking for a friend
If you are looking for a partner or spouse
If you are looking for your father, and he is not on your birth certificate or you are looking for your son or daughter and you are not on their birth certificate
If you are looking for your child who is known to be 'safe' to one parent
If you are looking on behalf of someone else
If you are looking to assemble a family tree
If you are looking for someone who is thought to be abroad
If you are looking for someone who is a member of the Armed Services
If you are looking for a relative that has been fostered
If you are an adopted person looking for birth parent(s) or sibling(s) or Birth parent(s) looking for their adopted child.
If you have legal enquiries

If you are looking for someone but do not know their full date of birth
  • Ask another family member if they know the date of birth
  • If the place of birth is known, the local Registrar of births, deaths and marriages in that area may help with a date of birth. May be cheaper than contacting the General Register Office (below). Contact the local office.
  • General Register Office. For obtaining public records in the UK, including birth, marriage and death certificates. Can also supply full date of birth if place of birth and rough age is known (for a small cost) General Register Office: http://www.direct.gov.uk/gro

Try the following websites for certificate searches:

If you are looking for a friend

Exceptions: If the missing person is vulnerable and reported missing to the police, Missing People may be able to help, but we would need to contact the police before working on a case.

You could try the following internet tracing services which hold the electoral roll and directory enquiries.

You could also try Friends Reunited which holds details of UK based schools and colleges - free registration but a small fee to forward e-mails.

Or leave a message on an Internet Message Board, such as:

You could also try and put a message in a local newspaper

If you are looking for a partner or spouse

Exceptions: If the missing person is vulnerable and reported missing to the police, Missing People may be able to help, but we would need to contact the police before working on a case.

Ask if the missing persons' direct relatives could contact Missing People.

If you are having relationship difficulties and need to talk to someone about this, you could also try www.relate.org.uk

 

If you are under 18 years

Ask if a parent/older sibling (blood relative over 18) could contact Missing People instead.

You could try the following internet tracing service which hold the electoral roll and directory enquiries.

Search on the Internet for further information - e.g. typing the name into a search site such as www.google.co.uk or words such as 'find father', 'missing person' etc. There are organisations on the Internet that will help in this situation (they may charge a fee).

Or leave a message on an Internet Message Board, such as:

You could also try and put a message in a local newspaper

If you are looking for your father, and he is not on your birth certificate or you are looking for your son or daughter and you are not on their birth certificate

Exceptions: If there is some legal evidence or written acceptance of parental responsibility, e.g. maintenance order.

You could try the following internet tracing service which hold the electoral roll and directory enquiries.

Friends Reunited: holds details of UK based schools and colleges - free registration but a small fee to forward e-mails.

Search on the Internet for further information - e.g. typing the name into a search site such as www.google.co.uk or words such as 'find father', 'missing person' etc. There are organisations on the Internet that will help in this situation (they may charge a fee)

Or leave a message on an Internet Message Board, such as:

You could also try and put a message in a local newspaper

If you are looking for your child who is known to be 'safe' to one parent

Exceptions: if child is over 18, possibly 16, so long as Child Support Agency purposes can be ruled out.

  • Reunite: 0116 255 6234 www.reunite.org Deals with international custody disputes.
  • If you have questions around the custody of a child, we would advise you to talk to a Solicitor or the local Citizens Advice Bureau www.citizensadvice.org.uk
If you are looking on behalf of someone else

Missing People needs to talk directly to the blood relative. Unless the missing person is vulnerable and reported missing to the police or there has been a death in the family. Ask if the missing person's blood relative could contact Missing People or complete/sign forms. This is to ensure they are aware of the implications of their search.

If you are looking to assemble a family tree

There are a number of online resources where you can look into finding out about your family history.

Try the following websites for certificate searches:

If you are looking for someone who is thought to be abroad

Exceptions: If reported missing to the police in the UK.

  • The advice appropriate desk at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
  • The Salvation Army www.salvationarmy.org Family Tracing Service, search for immediate family members for the purpose of reconciliation. Operates in over 100 countries around the world.
  • British Red Cross: www.redcross.org.uk/trace International family tracing and message service aimed at restoring and maintaining family links between close relatives separated as a result of armed conflict, natural or other disasters, or where special Red Cross assistance is required.
  • Overseas Section, General Register Office. The Overseas section holds records of the births, marriages and deaths of British citizens overseas that have been registered with the British registering authorities, e.g. British Consuls, High Commissions, HM Forces, Civil Aviation Authority and The Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen.
  • International Social Services: www.issuk.org.uk for relatives of people missing overseas. They have contacts with similar organisations in other countries. Also deal with adopted and others seeking contact with birth parents and vice versa. Tracing is available as part of ISS work in complex family cases only.
If you are looking for someone who is a member of the Armed Services

Missing People are not able to help, because a life could be put at risk if they are working undercover. If you are concerned about a person who is missing from the Armed Services, we would recommend that you contact their commanding officer as a first port of call.

If you are looking for a relative that has been adopted or fostered

There are organisations which specialise in dealing with cases where someone has been adopted or fostered:

  • BAAF: (British Agency for Adoption and Fostering) http://www.baaf.org.uk/ . Issues and tracing concerning adoption and fostering.
  • NORCAP: (Nat. Org. for Counselling Adoptees & Parents) http://www.norcap.org.uk/ supports people who have been affected by adoption. Searching advice. Specialist research service. Publications including specialist guide to searching for relatives lost through adoption.
  • International Social Services: www.issuk.org.uk for relatives of people missing overseas. Deals with adoptees and others seeking contact with birth parents and vice versa.
  • The Adoption Contact Register: Available at the General Register Office, the ACR contains a record of every person who has been adopted through a court in England or Wales. Information on applying for adoption certificates, receiving information on original birth details and advice on making contact with adopted people and their relatives. They also register interest in wanting to be found (by both parties).
  • TALK adoption www.talkadoption.org.uk for young people up to the age of 25 who are adoptees, their siblings, friends or birth parents. Advice given on tracing relatives, rights, birth identity etc.
If you have legal enquiries

Missing People are unable to advise on legal enquires. We would recommend you contact: