# How to find two "lost relatives" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 10, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-two-lost-relatives/621522 "2012-05-10T17:17:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-two-lost-relatives/621522/1 "2012-05-10T17:17:39Z")
I want to help a friends dad out. He has some memory loss and is trying to reconnect with his biological dad and a half sibling. He only remember their first name and the town they reside in. He’s visiting that town soon. Which steps do he need to take to locate them? ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-two-lost-relatives/621522/2 "2012-05-10T19:22:37Z")
Well, you really need the last name and the city he, or the father was born in. And then, Bob’s your Uncle! ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-two-lost-relatives/621522/3 "2012-05-10T19:45:19Z")
Just ask around, using the info you have. Talk to old people, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-two-lost-relatives/621522/4 "2012-05-10T19:46:49Z")
Jim Rockford would find them, given that information. He might need Dennis’ help though. ---
**Author:** ![PacifistPorcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PacifistPorcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PacifistPorcupine)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-two-lost-relatives/621522/5 "2012-05-10T19:53:20Z")
You should go to that own first, and knock on every door. And while you’re there, see if they’ll each give you a free flower, then try to sell those. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-two-lost-relatives/621522/6 "2012-05-10T20:26:28Z")
Make sure you first stop by the airport first, and check the baggage area. You know how on TV shows and movies there’s a group of people standing around holding signs with names on them? Most of them are limo drivers picking up their clients, but there’s always a stray long-lost-parent or two, looking for their forgotten/discarded/adopted children. Hopefully, your friend’s father will know your friend’s current name. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-two-lost-relatives/621522/7 "2012-05-10T20:46:01Z")
First name: John Residence: Chicago, IL ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-two-lost-relatives/621522/8 "2012-05-10T21:03:06Z")
Is this a case of adoption? If so, has he previously connected with the biological dad? If so, there must be a document trail of some kind. Has he tried the adoption agency? Looking up his birth certificate in his place of birth? Is the mother or some other relative still around who would know the name of the father? If all else fails, I suppose you could try personal ads in the town’s paper – “Father of xxxx, named John, requested to contact…” That’s probably a long shot, because no one reads personal ads anymore. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-two-lost-relatives/621522/9 "2012-05-10T21:07:47Z")
> [@Diamonds02](#): > > I want to help a friends dad out. He has some memory loss and is trying to reconnect with his biological dad and a half sibling. He only remember their first name and the town they reside in. He’s visiting that town soon. > > Which steps do he need to take to locate them? Why not post the names and the name of the town here? Maybe some doper knows them (or even _is_ them!). It’s a longshot, but you never know.