Siblings can lose touch for a number of reasons or may never have met each other in certain circumstances. This can lead many people to want to find their siblings later in life. However, it can be difficult to track down a relative, even in our increasingly online world. You’ll need to know where to look and what steps to take if you want to give yourself the best chance of success. If there’s someone in your life whom you want to reconnect with, keep reading to learn more about how to find a long-lost sibling online.
How can you find your long-lost sibling online?
There are a lot of online tools available to people who are hoping to reconnect with long-lost family members. One way to begin is by using one of the many websites online that allow you to search for them. Even having just a phone number or last name can help you get started. You can simply put “look up person” into Google, and you’ll likely be able to find a service, such as GoLookUp, that can help you access any personal information that may be available. You can also search public records to find records that may be helpful in locating your sibling, including census data, court records, and property information.
Talking to your friends and family members who may have more information about their current whereabouts is a good idea. How many details they have access to may vary depending on your situation. Siblings who lost contact after a move or a falling-out may be easier to find than biological siblings whom you’ve never met.
You can also take advantage of social media to help find your sibling. You may be able to find their account on a platform like Facebook. Search other sites like Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter, too. You might be surprised at how much information you can find that way. There are even real-life stories about siblings finding each other on social media, so don’t underestimate how useful it can be.
What can you do to prepare to reconnect with your sibling?
Given how emotional reconnecting with a long-lost relative can be, you might want to consider a talk therapy session before you begin your search. You should at least consider it before you contact or meet up with them, if you decide to take the process that far. You want to ensure that you’re prepared for whatever happens, even if the interaction doesn’t go the way you expect it to.
If you’re adopted and trying to connect with a biological sibling, you need to be conscious of the fact that your sibling may not want to be contacted. Adoptions can be difficult emotionally for both the adoptee and their biological family. You may not know the full context behind why you were put up for adoption or what your biological family’s life is like. Your sibling may be open to reconnecting with you, but it’s always best to give them space to decide for themselves. A letter, email, or note of some kind that they can respond to in their own time is a better idea than showing up at their door.
There’s a lot to consider before you start looking for your sibling. Gather as many details about them as possible and take advantage of online people and public records search engines that may be able to help you find more recent information. Friends and family may also be able to help, though in some cases, they may not have access to the information you need either. No matter how you decide to find them, prepare yourself emotionally before you reach out. The best way to have a reunion is to make sure both people are comfortable with it first.