Learn About Different Types of People Records

There are several different types of people records available to help in research and discovery of another person. Perhaps you’ve lost track of an old friend, or you want to know more about someone you recently met. This is possible by utilizing search techniques ideal for the type of information you are seeking.
 

Email Records

The Internet provides many opportunities to contact someone via email and even search for their address in public directories. Social networking and other sites allow individuals to publish their email address online for others to find them in the future.

You may also want to utilize government search engines which provide the email addresses and Internet usernames associated with convicted sex offenders. This is helpful when your child is making friends online or a stranger is contacting you electronically and you simply want to check out their story. The ability to search online identities is currently only provided by some states, so check with your local authorities to see if you may utilize this service.
 

Phone Records

Another easy way to find or track someone is with phone records. Although the general public may not access records of phone calls made or received from a number, you can search online for an individual’s or business’s published number.

Some search engines also specialize in providing unlisted information for a fee. Cellular number directories offer opt-in listings of numbers, so if the person you’re looking for has done so, you can find their number in one of these specialty sites. You can also conduct a reverse search on a phone number to find out who it belongs to if you’re receiving calls from an unknown party.
 

School Records

School records, though a great way to find someone and learn more about their past, are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA. This statute largely restricts access to a student’s records except to their parents if they are under the age of 18, or if the requesting party is armed with a court-issued subpoena.

However, unless a student or his or her parents request the school to refrain from providing what is referred to as “directory” information, the school can disclose this information to the public. This “directory” information may include phone numbers, addresses, dates attended, date and place of birth and any awards received while a student there.
 

Social Security Records

Social Security records are accessible in certain circumstances from the Social Security Administration. If you need to access the records of a deceased loved one, for example, you will need to provide evidence of their death, their name and Social Security number in order to access them. You may also obtain them with a proper release form from the individual.
 

Name Change Records

There are many reasons an individual may change his or her name. This may occur after a marriage or divorce, or simply because the person does not like the name they are currently known by.These records are generally maintained by the court that granted the petition for the name change, so you’ll need to know which local court the person visited in order to gain access to them.
 

Military Records

Military records may often provide information about tours of duty, dates and places served and even rank during active service. The Department of Veterans Affairs can offer the ability to contact fellow military men and women whom you have lost touch with, though these records are still subject to applicable privacy laws.
 

Family Records

Birth, death, marriage and divorce records are all maintained by the local courts and provide a great resource when conducting genealogy research or finding a lost friend or loved one. Marriage records may offer insight into possible name changes after being wed, and birth records can provide a roadmap to find relatives who you may not have known existed before.
 

All of these types of people records can help you learn more about an individual of interest, find a lost friend or loved one, and even construct your family tree with the aid of the proper public and government offices.