Every case starts with the information you already have. Our tracing team assesses those details, determines what enquiries are appropriate and carries out research using lawful data sources and investigative methods.
Rather than relying on a single database result, information identified during a trace is assessed and cross-checked wherever possible before we report our findings.
Step 1 – Tell Us Who You Need to Locate
The first step is to provide us with as much accurate information as you have about the person.
This may include:
- Full name
- Previous or last-known address
- Date of birth or approximate age
- Previous telephone number
- Email address
- Previous employer
- Known relatives or associates
- Approximate date you last had contact
- Any other information that could help distinguish the person from others with a similar name
Don’t worry if you don’t have all of this information. Some traces can begin with relatively limited details.
Our team will assess what you have and advise whether there is sufficient information to proceed.
Step 2 – We Assess the Trace
Before enquiries begin, we consider the information provided and the purpose of the search.
This helps us determine the appropriate tracing approach and whether additional information may be required.
Cases can range from relatively straightforward address traces to more complex enquiries involving people who have moved several times, have limited public information or may have relocated overseas.
Step 3 – Professional Tracing Enquiries Begin
Once instructed, our tracing agents begin the research process.
Depending on the circumstances of the case, enquiries may involve a combination of specialist data sources, public records, open-source research and other lawful investigative methods.
The exact approach varies from case to case because no two traces are identical.
Our objective is not simply to locate a possible record containing the same name. We are looking for information that can help establish the identity and current location of the correct individual.
Step 4 – Information Is Cross-Checked
Verification is an important part of professional tracing.
A name appearing at an address does not necessarily mean that the individual currently lives there. Records can be historic, people can share the same name and information available online may be inaccurate or outdated.
Wherever possible, information identified during our enquiries is therefore cross-referenced against other available information before a result is reported.
This additional verification helps reduce the risk of providing information relating to the wrong person or an outdated address.
Step 5 – You Receive the Results
Once our enquiries are complete, we provide you with the results of the trace.
The information supplied will depend on the service instructed and what has been established during our investigation.
Where an address trace has been requested, for example, the objective is to establish and verify the individual’s current residential address.
If we’re unable to establish a reliable result, we’ll explain the outcome of the enquiries rather than simply providing information that we cannot reasonably verify.
How Long Does a People Trace Take?
Some straightforward UK traces can produce results in as little as 24 hours.
More complex cases may take longer, particularly where there is limited starting information, the individual has moved several times or enquiries extend outside the UK.
We will advise you if a case is likely to require more extensive investigation.
Is the Tracing Service Confidential?
Yes. Tracing enquiries are handled confidentially and information is processed in accordance with applicable UK data protection and privacy requirements.
We may ask about your reason for locating an individual before accepting an instruction. This allows us to assess the purpose of the trace and determine whether the enquiry is one we can appropriately undertake.
We do not provide tracing services for unlawful or improper purposes.
Who Uses Our Tracing Services?
Find A Person UK receives instructions from private individuals as well as professional and commercial clients.
These can include solicitors, landlords, businesses, executors, creditors and organisations that need to locate an individual for a legitimate purpose.
The circumstances vary considerably. Someone may have moved without providing a forwarding address, a family may have lost contact with a relative, a solicitor may need to locate an individual connected with legal proceedings or a business may need to establish the whereabouts of a former customer or debtor.
Whatever the circumstances, the first stage is understanding what information is already available and what needs to be established.
What Happens If I Have Very Little Information?
Limited information does not automatically mean that a trace cannot be undertaken.
Even an old address, approximate age, previous telephone number, email address or known connection may provide useful information when combined with other research.
The more accurate information you can provide at the outset, however, the better the opportunity to distinguish the correct individual from people with similar details.
If you’re unsure whether you have enough information, contact our tracing team before instructing us. We can assess the details available and advise on the appropriate next step.
Start a Tracing Enquiry
If you need professional assistance locating an individual, contact Find A Person UK and tell us what information you currently have.
Our tracing team can assess the circumstances, explain the appropriate tracing service and advise what information is required before enquiries begin.