# His domain name expired: how come I can register it?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-domain-name-expired-how-come-i-can-register-it/66349>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 24, 2001, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-domain-name-expired-how-come-i-can-register-it/66349 "2001-05-24T02:43:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kansas\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kansas\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Man)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2001, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-domain-name-expired-how-come-i-can-register-it/66349/1 "2001-05-24T02:43:21Z")

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I am trying to get a domain name from a cyber squatter who, I think, has let the domain name expire without renewing. I have checked the WHOIS info from several registration sites and they all show that the domain expired on May 20.

It’s now May 23 but all of the registrars say that the name is “taken” and won’t let me register it.

Is there some kind of grace period after the expiry of a domain? If so, how long must I wait?

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**Author:** ![Kansas\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kansas\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Man)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2001, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-domain-name-expired-how-come-i-can-register-it/66349/2 "2001-05-24T02:46:29Z")

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The title of this thread should read:

How come I CAN’T register it.

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**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2001, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-domain-name-expired-how-come-i-can-register-it/66349/3 "2001-05-24T03:12:36Z")

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Network Solutions (if that’s where it’s registered, don’t know about the rest) will keep the domain active for about another 30 days for the “owner” to pay up and send reminder notices…after about that time it will be available.

The only reason I know is I purposely let a domain name lapse and received several notices in the mail.

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2001, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-domain-name-expired-how-come-i-can-register-it/66349/4 "2001-05-24T14:25:29Z")

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Try [networksolutions.com](http://networksolutions.com) & [registar.com](http://registar.com) they have explanation pages of why you can’t always buy it quickly.