Frequently Asked Questions
Can you help find my missing relative?
In short, yes! Please describe your enquiry to us so we can help you. We will also need key details such as their full name, date of birth, previous address, and when you lost touch. We have prepared an application form which shows details of the main points that we need from you. Otherwise feel free to contact us via our Contact page.
Can you help me find my old work colleagues and school chums
We certainly can. Many people are looking to arrange reunions with old school friends, army buddies and so on. It can be really good to catch up with people from the past.
Can you help find my old sweetheart?
Yes it is certainly possible and it can be a happy reunion. However, you need to go carefully in searches like this to make sure of your motives and to be aware of the potential difficulties that your reappearance may bring to your former friend. You need to remember that they may now have a whole new life and family that does not know about you!
Who can help me track down my lost father / mother / brother / sister?
If you would like us to conduct a search on your behalf then please see the question above, titled 'Can you help find my missing relative?'. If you wish to try and search for your missing relative yourself, then you will find some helpful articles about how to find missing people on our Articles page and some useful people finder links on our Links page. Also we can provide you with a free weekly newsletter which you can subscribe to. Of course you must feel free to contact us for help with your search any time.
How much will it cost to locate someone?
When I agree to take a case I take a non-returnable deposit of £100. If and on completion of the job when I find the person you are looking for I charge a further £200 which includes arranging a reunion for you. This sum is still payable if I discover that the person you are looking for is no longer alive.
Do you carry out adoption searches?
I am sometimes asked if Blood-Ties can do searches for adults who have been adopted or for the birth family of an adopted person. The answer is no, as the law requires that the work is carried out through an Intermediary Service that is trained and registered for this kind of work.
As a good explanation of the law as it stands and the processes involved, please take a look at the Adoption, Search and Reunion site at:
http://www.adoptionsearchreunion.org.uk/contact/intermediaries/questionsanswersadopted.htmI have also written an article on the topic of adoption searches, which you can find at http://www.blood-ties.com/AdoptionSearchesArticle.doc
Can I trace my relative who was adopted as a child?
The law now allows you contact an Intermediary Service with the aim of contacting your birth relative. You can leave a letter on the file, which they will learn about if they, in turn, come to search for their birth family. Once they are an adult they will learn that you are looking for them and if they want to get in touch they can.
Take a look at my article on adoption at http://www.blood-ties.com/AdoptionSearchesArticle.doc
I was adopted, how can I trace my birth family?
To help you find a local Intermediary Service to set the ball rolling, you can just type in your locality into the search box at http://www.adoptionsearchreunion.org.uk/help/database/. You will see that your local Social Services Department will have one plus a range of local and national charities that are geared to helping people who have been adopted.
You can also contact the General Record Office at http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/adoptions/
You will be helped through the process of learning about what is on your file and the reasons why you were adopted. They will also help you to make contact with your birth family if that is the wish of both parties.
Take a look at my article on adoption at http://www.blood-ties.com/AdoptionSearchesArticle.doc
Can you find someone's ex-directory telephone number?
No. It is illegal to try to get private information from BT or other phone suppliers. This is an offence known as 'blagging', which is to persuade or trick people into giving away personal information.
Can you collect a debt for me?
No, I just look for missing family and friends. There is nothing wrong with tracing debtors and many Private Investigators do it, but it is not my interest or skill.
Can you find someone from his or her email address?
Sometimes it is possible, but only if they have put it up on the Internet somewhere or entered it into an email directory. Some email addresses are from their website, however many people use free email services and don't leave any kind of identifying information behind.
Can you take clients from anywhere in the world?
I am happy to help anyone from anywhere.
Can you find people anywhere in the world or just in the UK?
I can find people in the UK, but if you are looking for help in another country I may be able to find expert help there to solve your mystery.
Can you check if someone has a criminal record?
No. You can only check someone's record with his or her consent. The only other way would be to read a great many old newspapers to see if the case was ever published. Once again this is not my interest or skill.
Are there any cases you will not take on?
Yes. I specialise in tracing missing friends and family. I don't do anything else. I will not search for anyone if I suspect that the motive for the search is not in the best interests of the person being searched for. I am not here to help people commit crimes such as stalking, abduction, kidnap, assault or murder. Of course the vast majority of people have good motives, but we all have to be aware of those that do not.
Will you give me the information you discover?
No. It is our policy to contact the person sought ourselves. This is to protect the privacy of both parties. If they don't want any further contact then that is the end of the matter. This is not from a desire to be difficult, but to protect us all from the consequences of infringing the Data Protection Act. It must be remembered that it is a person's free choice to go missing or to stay missing.
How long does it take to find someone?
Some searches are concluded in a couple of days. However, a couple of weeks is more common and occasionally the search can take a month or so. If it is not straightforward there can be delays while certificates are ordered and so on.
If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me. I look forward to helping you find the people you are looking for.
Why use us? At Blood-Ties Tracing Service we can help find missing family and friends, locate a lost parent, track down relatives, trace an uncle, aunt, cousin, friend or colleague. We can help in finding lost father, mother, brother, sister, son or daughter, contact birth-mother, foster parents, adopted guardian, also relocate lost business contacts and colleagues. We are The UK People Finder, experts in people search and finding people.
Blood Ties Tracing Service -
UK People search with the UK People Finder.
