Research FAQ's: People Finders

The Law Library Staff prepares "Research Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQs) for the convenience of our users to provide access to a variety of sources addressing particular points of law. These are general legal information sources, and are not to be construed as a substitute for personal legal advice from an attorney. Please seek legal counsel to help you determine the applicability of any of the information in these resources to your specific situation. The Law Library makes no recommendation as to whether you should purchase any services offered by the websites contained in this FAQ.

To find public records with information on people, see our Research FAQ on Public Records.All Internet users leave "tracks" which can provide information about them. All you have to do is follow their "tracks." This FAQ will guide you through both general and specific web sites where you can find information about people.

Comprehensive Sources For Finding People

The following sites offer comprehensive links for finding information about people:

FamilySearch.org (register for free access to nationwide records)
Justia Virtual Chase
PeopleFinders
Guide To Searching The Internet
Academic Directories

Search Engines

A person's name can be used as a search term to find web pages containing his or her name. These search engines may also reveal phone numbers, addresses and e-mails:

Google
Yahoo’s People Search
Pipl (search by name, email, username, phone number or location)
Skipease (searches multiple sites at the same time)
www.ussearch.com (fee-based but inexpensive; search by name, phone, address, email or social network)
Intellius (fee-based; comprehensive and expensive; search by name, phone)
Spokeo (fee-based but inexpensive; search by name, email, phone or address)
BeenVeerified (fee-based; expensive; search by name, email, phone or real property)

White & Yellow Pages

In addition to offering searches by name and location, these pages often feature reverse look-ups, where you can put in a phone number to find a listing for a person. Some white pages also have a “neighbors” feature, where you can find the neighbors of a given address.

Anywho (includes reverse phone number and area/zip code lookups)
UnitedStatesZipCodes.org
Craig Ball's Phone Finder (searches many directories)
Reverse Caller Lookup (fee based)
Truthfinder Reverse Phone Lookup (fee based)
WhitePages (fee-based; expensive; search by name; includes reverse address and reverse phone lookups)
YellowPages.com (includes reverse address and reverse phone lookups)

Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites may provide information on a given individual.

PeekYou: Searches many social media and news sites for information on people. Search by name, username or phone. Filter by other information, including interests, work, school, city, phone and email.
FaceBook
X (formerly Twitter)
Myspace
LinkedIn
YouTube
Instagram

Professional Directories

You may be able to locate professionals by finding them in professional directories. See our Research FAQ on Public Records for lists of good directories

Fee-Based Services

Lexis Smartlinx Report: With a permissible purpose, users can search by name, alias, address or SSN to find people. Reports can include name variations, DOBs, partial SSNs, current and former addresses, phone numbers, emails, employment and businesses, voter registrations, professional licenses, other licenses (sport, pilot), bankruptcies, liens and judgments, real property, boats and aircraft, UCC liens, criminal and traffic cases, associates, relatives, and possible neighbors. Members may contact the Law Library to request a report from this service.
Accurint Person Search (from Lexis): Government agencies and private investigators can use this tool to obtain the same information that is contained in a Lexis Smartlinx report. (See above). Depending on their permissions and purpose, searchers may be able to obtain additional information.
Westlaw PeopleMap: With a permissible purpose, users can search by name, address or SSN to find people. Reports can include name variations, DOBs, partial SSNs, current and former addresses, phone numbers, emails, employment and businesses, voter registrations, professional licenses, other licenses (sport, pilot), bankruptcies, liens and judgments, real property, boats and aircraft, UCC liens, criminal and traffic cases, associates, relatives, and possible neighbors.
CLEAR (from Thomson Reuters): Investigative professionals can use this tool to obtain the same information that is contained in a Westlaw PeopleMap report. (See above). Depending on their permissions and purpose, searchers may be able to obtain additional information.

Comprehensive Sources For Finding People

The following sites offer comprehensive links for finding information about people:

FamilySearch.org (register for free access to nationwide records)

Search Engines

A person's name can be used as a search term to find web pages containing his or her name. These search engines may also reveal phone numbers, addresses and e-mails:

Pipl (search by name, email, username, phone number or location)

Skipease (searches multiple sites at the same time)

www.ussearch.com (fee-based but inexpensive; search by name, phone, address, email or social network)

Intellius (fee-based; comprehensive and expensive; search by name, phone)

Spokeo (fee-based but inexpensive; search by name, email, phone or address)

BeenVeerified (fee-based; expensive; search by name, email, phone or real property)

White & Yellow Pages

In addition to offering searches by name and location, these pages often feature reverse look-ups, where you can put in a phone number to find a listing for a person. Some white pages also have a “neighbors” feature, where you can find the neighbors of a given address.

Anywho (includes reverse phone number and area/zip code lookups)

Craig Ball's Phone Finder (searches many directories)

Reverse Caller Lookup (fee based)

Truthfinder Reverse Phone Lookup (fee based)

WhitePages (fee-based; expensive; search by name; includes reverse address and reverse phone lookups)

YellowPages.com (includes reverse address and reverse phone lookups)

Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites may provide information on a given individual.

PeekYou: Searches many social media and news sites for information on people. Search by name, username or phone. Filter by other information, including interests, work, school, city, phone and email.

Professional Directories

You may be able to locate professionals by finding them in professional directories. See our Research FAQ on Public Records for lists of good directories

Fee-Based Services

Accurint Person Search (from Lexis): Government agencies and private investigators can use this tool to obtain the same information that is contained in a Lexis Smartlinx report. (See above). Depending on their permissions and purpose, searchers may be able to obtain additional information.

CLEAR (from Thomson Reuters): Investigative professionals can use this tool to obtain the same information that is contained in a Westlaw PeopleMap report. (See above). Depending on their permissions and purpose, searchers may be able to obtain additional information.