How to find an address using a persons name?
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Monty66

Inquirer

Hi, I’m trying to track down someone but all I have is their full name. Is it even possible to find their current address just from that? What’s the safest and most reliable way to do this without getting into any legal trouble?

How to find an address using a persons name?

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Answer from 

Peter Hoffman, B.Sc.

Surveillance Specialist

Hello Monty, great question—and you’re not alone in asking it. Many people come to me with just a name and a burning need to reconnect or resolve something important. The short answer is yes, it’s possible to find someone’s address with just their name, but it takes more than a quick Google search to do it safely and legally.

First, let’s talk about why this can be tricky. A name alone, especially a common one, often leads to thousands of results online. Without additional identifiers—like date of birth, past locations, or employment history—you could easily end up on a wild goose chase or, worse, mistakenly identify the wrong person. That’s why professional investigators use a combination of open-source intelligence (OSINT), licensed databases, and sometimes good old-fashioned legwork to get accurate results.

Here’s what I’d suggest if you want to give it a try yourself before calling in help:

1. Start with Social Media: Platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram can be gold mines. People often list their current city, workplaces, or even have tagged locations in photos. Pay attention to mutual connections too—they can be a breadcrumb trail.

2. Use Search Engines with Extra Detail: Adding quotation marks around the full name in Google can filter out irrelevant hits. Combine it with keywords like “address,” “city,” or “phone number” to narrow down results. For example, “John Michael Smith” + “Dallas” can be more effective than just typing the name alone.

3. Public Records: Depending on the country or state, certain public records like voter registration, property ownership, or business filings can be accessible. These often require knowing at least the state or city where the person lived.

Now, a word of caution—there are countless “people search” websites out there promising quick results for a fee. Many of these are unreliable and will simply resell old or incorrect data. I’ve seen clients waste hundreds of dollars on these before coming to me for help. Real address tracing often involves cross-checking multiple sources and verifying details, which is something automated systems rarely do well.

From my experience, one case stands out. A client once hired me to find her estranged father. She had only his full name and the fact that he was once a truck driver. After three weeks of digging, I located him in a small town, living quietly after retiring. The key? Cross-referencing old employment records with property purchases. Without a professional approach, this would have been nearly impossible to confirm with certainty.

So, can you do this on your own? Maybe—but if accuracy matters (and I suspect it does), you’ll want someone who knows how to navigate the legal and ethical side of investigations. Remember, privacy laws are strict, and crossing the line can lead to serious trouble. That’s why licensed investigators like me are here—to get the answers without putting you at risk.

If you’d like to move forward with a professional search, we offer a dedicated Address Trace service that’s discreet, compliant, and fast. You can also contact us directly for a confidential chat about your situation. The sooner you start, the sooner we can help you get the clarity you need.

Looking forward to helping you find the answers.

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