Personal and family matters
How to Find a Missing Person: First Steps
When someone goes missing, the first hours matter. Here's what to do now and how detectives support the search.
Key points
- Report to police immediately
- Gather photos, details and recent activity
- Detectives work alongside law enforcement
Report it now
Contact local police right away. There's generally no required waiting period to report a missing person. For a missing child, also contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.
Gather information
Recent photos, descriptions, clothing, vehicles, phone numbers, bank and card information you can share with police, medical needs, friends, places they frequent, and their last known activities.
Use public resources
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) helps families and detectives share information about missing persons cases.
How a detective helps
Detectives canvass areas, interview contacts, research digital and records trails, follow leads police may not have resources for, and coordinate with law enforcement. See missing persons investigations.
Adults who don't want to be found
Adults have the right to leave. Detectives may confirm someone is safe without disclosing their location if they don't want contact.
Common questions
Is there a 24-hour wait to report?
Generally no. Report as soon as you're concerned.
Will a detective share information with police?
Yes, coordinating with law enforcement is standard.
What about cold cases?
Detectives can revisit old leads, records and witnesses.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and vary by state; consult an attorney about your situation. See our legal disclaimer.
Related services
Services connected to this guide.
Missing Persons Investigations
Structured searches for adults and family members who have gone missing.
Locate & Records ResearchPeople Searches
Identifying and locating an individual from limited information.
Personal & FamilyLost Contact & Reunion Searches
Finding friends, relatives and old connections you have lost touch with.
Keep reading
Related guides.
How to Find Someone Who Moved
How to find someone who moved: what you can try yourself, why online results mislead, and how detectives verify a current address.
Hiring a private detectiveWhen Should You Hire a Private Detective?
Signs it's time to hire a private detective, from relationship doubts and custody concerns to fraud, missing people and lawsuits.
Business and legal mattersSkip Tracing Explained
What skip tracing is, who uses it, how professional skip tracing differs from database searches, and the legal limits that apply.
Private detectives by city
Confidential inquiry
Have a question this guide didn't answer?
Call, email or send a short confidential inquiry. You'll get a straight answer about what's possible, what's lawful and what it would involve.