Finding Cheryl's Father

About a year ago I was invited to a birthday party at the home of a lady named Cheryl.  Cheryl and I had met through a mutual friend but we barely knew each other.  While I was at the party something was said about me being a PI and finding missing persons.  Cheryl said she had been looking for her father for many years and had just about given up on ever finding him.  I asked her what information she had to work with and she went inside and got some papers and photos.  She had a photo of her parents when they married about 50 years ago.  Her father was in the Navy and after Cheryl was born the parents were divorced and Cheryl did not remember ever knowing him.  She had her parent's marriage license and divorce papers.   Even though he had a very common name and his last known address was on a Naval ship, the marriage and divorce papers had some valuable information that Cheryl had not known what to do with.  The papers had his middle initial, date, and place of birth, and those were huge clues.

I started looking for Cheryl's father and soon I found him.  I called to make sure he was the right person and to ask permission to give Cheryl his contact information.  I spoke to some of his family members who relayed the information to him and told me they were all thrilled that Cheryl had found him........he had always wanted to find her also.

I went back to Cheryl's house to give her the information and within about 30 minutes she was on the phone with her father.  They talked for the next couple of hours and were soon planning a trip for Cheryl to visit him.  Needless to say this was a wonderful reunion and they have kept in touch on almost a daily basis.

From past experience I know that many people have a need to find a father or other relative or old friend.  No knowing what happened to a  loved one can cause a void in someone's life and they need answers.  Regardless of what they find, the truth will set them free.  Once the truth is found, the void is filled and most people are able to find closure.

Almost anyone can be found if you have a full name, date of birth, and place of birth.

One of my favorite resources to find information is Ancestry.com.

If you need to find someone and like Cheryl have tried everything you know how to do and need help, know that I have over twenty years of experience and a proven track record for finding and reuniting separated families.

Privacy laws protect certain information, but there are many public records available at public libraries, archive libraries, court houses, the internet, and many public offices.  Hiring a professional investigator can save you time and money because they have the knowledge and experience to know how and where to look for information.

                                               

 

 

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Searching Public Records

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There are many public records available at court houses, state office buildings, federal office buildings, libraries, and archive libraries.

For me, finding information on public records is like a treasure hunt with the information being the "treasure".

Have you ever experienced a scavenger hunt?  Maybe you had a list of things to find.  Searching public records is similar.  It is good to make a list of what information you have and what information you need to find.

Regardless of the reason for the search, there are many public records such as marriage, divorce, property, leins/judgments, bankruptcy, business information, and much more.

Some public records are accessible thru online searches, and some require you to physically go to the various locations to view them or obtain a copy.

Searching public records can be very time consuming.  A professional investigator can save time and money if you need help.

Privacy laws protect certain information, but there are many public records available at public libraries, archive libraries, court houses, the internet, and many public offices.  Hiring a professional investigator can save you time and money because they have the knowledge and experience to know how and where to look for information.

Locating a Father

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Finding a father is one of the most requested searches of all.

Fifty percent of all children in the U.S. are being raised by a single parent, primarily their mother.

Many of these children may never meet or know their father.

What is causing this problem?

Divorce - Fifty percent of all marriages in the U.S. are ending in divorce.  In some cases the parents may share custody of a child, in some cases only one parent retains custody.  Divorce may result in lots of pain and anger of the parents and the children can become the victim.  Children may not know the truth of the divorce and may be torn between parents to take sides.  If the father is absent the child may have a need to know why he is no longer in their life.  The child may need closure.

Death - Children who's father is deceased may have a void in their heart and they may have a need for closure.

Regardless of the reason why a father is not in a child's life, when the child becomes an adult there is a need to find the truth and to find closure.  Living with the "unknown" can cause lots of problems and can cause someone's life to be out of balance.

If you need help in finding a father I can help.  The average search is only $150.  

Privacy laws protect certain information, but there are many public records available at public libraries, archive libraries, court houses, the internet, and many public offices.  Hiring a professional investigator can save you time and money because they have the knowledge and experience to know how and where to look for information.

Information

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Looking for someone requires that you follow information from paper trails.  From the time we are born until after we die the average American citizen will leave a paper trail approximately seven miles long.

Many paper trails are public records that can be found at a court house, a public library, an archives library, and a city, state, or federal office.

Some records are private and laws prevent access to these records.  Bank records, medical records, and other records require either an authorization or court order to obtain.

Regardless of what you have to work with, the search begins where the trail ended with whatever you have to work with.  

Start with a list of information that you have to work with.  Do you have a correct full name?  Sometimes the name can be spelled different ways.  Do you have a last known address or place of residence?  Do you know any other relatives of this person?

A female is harder to find than a male because she may change her name.  An unusual name is easier to find than a common name.

Take your list of information and think of how many trails might exist based on what you have to work with.  Is this person listed in an old City/Suburban Directory at the library?  Did this person own property and pay property taxes?  Was this person married or divorced?  Where did this person work or attend school?  All of these are information trails that can lead to finding someone.

Following a paper trail is like working a puzzle, or going on a treasure hunt.

If you don't have time to follow a trail and need some help, let me know.  I can probably find what you need in only a few hours and not only save you time, but save you money.

Privacy laws protect certain information, but there are many public records available at public libraries, archive libraries, court houses, the internet, and many public offices.  Hiring a professional investigator can save you time and money because they have the knowledge and experience to know how and where to look for information.

Adoption Search

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An adoption search is one of the most difficult searches of all.  Only six states have open records that allow an adoptee or a member of the biological family to search for each other.

According to a study committee for the American Pediatric Association "It is vital for one to know their identity in order to develop normally."

If it is vital to know one's identity, why is this information being denied by so many states?   It seems that adoptees are victims that are basically denied the right to know their identity, their medical history, and their heritage.

A birth mother intended for adoption to be in the best interest of their child's life.  Some birth mothers were denied any information about their child.   Many birth mothers live with guilt and regret.  Biological families have a real need to know if the child given up for adoption had a good life and that adoption was in their best interest.  They have a need for peace of mind.
 
Adoptees have a real need to know their identity, their medical history, and their heritage.

An adoption search is not necessarily for a relationship.....it is primarily for identity, peace of mind, and closure.

Shame on the states that don't have open records.

Adoption searches are very time consuming and expensive, depending on what information is available.  Check with your state laws to determine if you qualify for identifying or non-identifying information, and whether or not that state has a mutual consent registry.  Be sure to sign up on the registry and request whatever information is allowed.

If you need to hire a professional to search for you, you must have certain information. 

Missing Persons

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Who is a missing person? 

• Someone that can not be found by the person who is searching for them.
• Someone missing due to foul play.
• Someone who is deliberately hiding.

Not all missing persons are missing for the same reason. 

A missing person may be a family member or old friend that no one has seen or heard from for a long time and their family is looking for them.  These types of missing persons have not done anything wrong and are not deliberately hiding.  They just don't know anyone is looking for them and they usually leave a good trail.

Someone who is missing due to foul play may be dead or alive.  Usually a missing person report is made and the police have searched for this person.  Depending on the information available and the trails left by the missing person may or may not lead to finding them.

People who are deliberately hiding may include criminals, persons wanted for collection, runaways, and others.  These types of missing person will go to great lengths not to leave a trail so they cannot be found.

In order for a professional investigator to conduct a search, certain information is required.  Most searches cost less than $500.

Privacy laws protect certain information, but there are many public records available at public libraries, archive libraries, court houses, the internet, and many public offices.  Hiring a professional investigator can save you time and money because they have the knowledge and experience to know how and where to look for information.