The grief after a loved one’s death can be complicated. Even when you seem to be coping, reminders can rekindle painful emotions.
Tracing experts can help you find out more about your loved one. They use their skills to search for information from public records, social media and family members.
Searching the Home
The first place to start when searching for a long lost loved one is in your own immediate family. Close relatives can provide critical information that will help you narrow down your search, including the person’s full name and nickname, their date of birth, spouse names, children, occupations, hobbies, and other details that can lead you to them.
The next step is to visit the homes of any known connections who may be able to lead you to your missing loved one. This can include current and former roommates, work colleagues, and mutual friends. In addition, it is a good idea to check online directories and social media sites for the person you are trying to find. You can also set up Google Alerts to be notified when the person’s name is mentioned online.
If your relative’s death was not a sudden occurrence, it is possible that the local news covered their passing. You can search for their obituary in the online newspaper archives or try visiting the websites of their place of worship to see if they have posted an announcement or tribute.
A thorough investigation conducted by an experienced private investigator can be a cost-effective and efficient way to locate your loved one. It can also reveal a wealth of additional important information that can give you options for reaching out to them.
Searching Social Media
When a loved one passes away, there are many loose ends that must be tied up. Some of these include social media accounts, and ensuring that they are either removed or memorialized.
If the deceased had arranged for someone to manage their account upon death as part of their end-of-life plan, that person will likely have posted a notice or tribute on their own social media page. If not, the deceased’s close friends or family may be able to do so on their behalf.
Social media sites like Facebook and Instagram will remove an account once they receive documentation proving that the deceased is dead. This can be done by providing a link to an obituary or news article, or by submitting a copy of a death certificate.
Another way to search social media is to look through the public posts that were made on their account in the past. This can be a heartbreaking process, but it can also lead to some closure.
Another option is to contact a private investigator. These companies scour the internet and other sources for information, and can often find much more than just social media or email addresses. For example, they can sometimes uncover phone numbers or physical locations as well. A thorough investigation can be expensive, but it is usually the fastest and most effective way to locate a lost loved one.
Searching for Financial Documents
When a loved one goes missing, family members often suffer from a range of psychological and psychosocial effects, especially if they don’t know whether their relative is alive or dead or where the remains are located. This type of uncertainty is known as “ambiguous loss.”
A search for long-lost relatives can be complicated and emotionally traumatic. However, it can help to start by gathering critical information about your missing family member. This can include their full name, date of birth and last known address. You may also want to consider requesting financial documents from them, including bank statements and loan/mortgage applications. Another good resource to consider is obituary records, which can provide valuable information on a deceased person’s final resting place. You can search for obituary records on TruthFinder’s Person Report tool.
Lastly, you can try searching through property records, which might provide important information on where your family member lives or works. Additionally, you can contact local funeral homes and cemeteries for information on a deceased relative’s burial location. You can also use Google Alerts, which will notify you whenever the person you’re looking for is mentioned online. A private investigator who specializes in locating missing persons can provide invaluable assistance with this process, as they can navigate obstacles that might arise during the investigation, such as outdated records or conflicting information.
Searching for Property
Many people keep a file in their desk or on a computer where they hold important information, such as insurance policy numbers, investment accounts and more. This is one of the most important places to start your search for any property a loved may have left behind. You can also contact financial institutions to find out if your loved ones have any assets they didn’t turn in after their death. You can also try to locate any safe deposit boxes that they might have and reach out to their former employers to see if any life insurance or retirement funds were paid out.
If you have some idea of the type of property your loved one might have, you can use tools like Google Alerts to help with your search. This way, you’ll be notified any time they are mentioned online and you can take action if necessary.
For a more thorough search, you can also hire a private investigator. While this option can be expensive, it often yields quicker results and offers more options. They will have access to higher-level databases and other tools that can help make the process much faster. If you’re interested in working with a professional, contact Beau Dietl and Associates today. Our investigative team can unobtrusively find the information you’re looking for, whether it’s a missing friend or family member.