Criteria
You must meet a list of criteria for us to take on your application.
You must meet a list of criteria for us to take on your application.
You must know the full name and date of birth of your family member, and you must both be over 18.
The family member you want to find’s last known location must be within the UK.
You must have had no contact for at least one year, but the last contact should have occurred sometime within the past 50 years.
You must be a direct relative of the person you want to find (includes step and foster parents/ siblings), and have had a substantial relationship with them.
You must be happy to talk in confidence and without judgement, about why the contact ended.
You must want to reconnect with your family member and re-build your relationship.
Find out more about how this service works, and how to apply.
Read our full list of criteria for our UK family tracing service, as well as situations where we are not able to help.
Understand what to expect when you make an application to our Lost Contact service.
Discover more agencies and services who can help you to find family member.
Read our 2025 feedback report to learn more about what people who have used the service have said about it.