Tips for Reaching Out to a Father You've Never Met
Finding your father may seem like an intimidating task, but by taking these steps and approaching the situation with respect and thoughtfulness, you can be on your way to finding your absent father and making an important connection.
- Gather any information you can find about your father. Talk to family members and look through old documents to track down any clues about your father’s identity. Gather as much information as you can, including legal name, approximate age, address history, etc. to use for further research.
- Reach out to possible family members on social media to see if they have more information. Many times, relatives or distant family members may have heard of or know of your father and be able to give more leads.
- Search online public records. Conduct an online search using the information your gathered to find records such as marriage records, census records, or public records.
- Hire a professional investigator, if needed. You may want to consider hiring a private investigator who specializes in finding absent parents. The fees may be high, but a “skip tracer” may be able to locate your father much faster than if you had done all the searching on your own.
- Reach out to him. Once you’ve managed to locate your father, reach out. Carefully consider how you want to deliver the message. Consider writing a letter, sending a card, or even placing a call.
Connecting with your father may not always be easy, but with patience and determination, you can find him and establish the connection you’ve been seeking.