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How to find someones date of birth?

How to find someones date of birth?

Finding out a person’s date of birth can be useful for a variety of reasons. Whether you are trying to surprise a friend for their birthday, need to verify someone’s age, or simply want to learn more about someone, knowing their exact date of birth can be important. However, searching for and finding someone’s date of birth is not always straightforward. There are several methods you can use and resources to check to uncover a person’s date of birth, each with various levels of ease and reliability.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the top strategies and tools to find and verify a person’s date of birth. We will cover both free options as well as paid services that offer access to more detailed public records and reports. Read on to learn the best techniques to discover a person’s date of birth!

Ask the Person Directly

The easiest and most straightforward way to find out when someone was born is simply to ask them directly. If you know the person well, they will likely freely tell you their birthdate if you inquire. Even if you do not know them very well, politely asking for their date of birth is generally well received. Most people are not sensitive about their birth date and will provide it.

However, some individuals prefer to keep their exact birthdate private, so you’ll want to ask respectfully. Make it clear why you are asking so they understand the context. Say something like “I’m planning a surprise party and want to make sure I have the right date for your birthday. When were you born?” If they seem uncomfortable sharing their exact date of birth, do not pressure them.

While asking directly is the quickest route, it certainly does not work in every situation. If you want to discreetly find out someone’s date of birth as a surprise, you won’t want to tip them off by asking outright. Or if you met someone briefly and didn’t get a chance to find out their birthdate, you’ll need to uncover it through other means. Also, some people may choose to be dishonest when you ask for their DOB for various personal reasons. So while asking the person directly can yield an quick answer, you’ll want to verify the date of birth through other methods.

Check Public Birth Records

Searching official public records is one of the best ways to uncover and confirm a person’s date of birth. Every time a child is born, the details of their birth are documented in official records maintained by government agencies. The agency that maintains birth records can vary based on location:

  • In the United States, birth certificates are issued by the state’s Vital Records Office in the state where the person was born.
  • In Canada, birth records are kept by the Vital Statistics Agency in each province or territory.
  • In the UK, birth records are held by the General Register Office.
  • Other countries likewise have designated government offices that store official birth records.

These agencies register births and issue certified copies of birth certificates. Therefore, obtaining a copy of someone’s official birth certificate is the most authoritative way to document their exact date of birth.

Birth records are considered private in most jurisdictions, but are often accessible with the proper documentation:

  • You can request a copy of your own birth certificate, which will include your full date of birth.
  • Immediate family members can also request records for their relatives.
  • Others who need it for official purposes like passport applications or marriage licenses may be able to obtain a copy.

There is normally a fee charged by the agency for each birth certificate copy. This ranges from $10-$50 USD depending on the agency. Some records may only be available in person or by mail. However accessing birth records directly through official agencies yields the most accurate and documented DOB results.

Online Public Records Searches

Searching official public birth records used to require contacting the records office directly for copies. However, many third party sites and services now provide access to birth records from these agencies online. Sites like VitalChek and Ancestry make it possible to efficiently search their databases of public birth records from all 50 states and get copies of birth certificates delivered digitally or by mail.

These sites typically charge a service fee in addition to the certificate copy fee charged by the records office. However, the ability to conveniently search from home and get copies delivered directly to you makes using an online vital records service worthwhile for many people. Depending on the information known about the person, these sites can search and provide birth details that can include:

  • Full legal name at birth
  • Exact date of birth
  • Parents’ names
  • Birth city, county, and state
  • Gender

Having access to both the birth date and place is extremely useful for verification. Online public records searches can successfully provide dates of birth 85-90% of the time when decent search parameters are available.

Check Public Records on Background Check Sites

There are many websites that provide background checks on people by compiling public records and reports from various sources. Many of these background check services will include a found person’s date of birth in their collected records. Sites like Truthfinder, Instant Checkmate, and BeenVerified sweep online public data sources along with credit bureau records to find details like full name, age, phone numbers, addresses and date of birth.

The depth of information found on background check sites varies greatly depending on how comprehensive of a search you pay for. Their standard name-based searches may only return partial matches or slim details. But upgrading to access their full database unlocks much more robust personal data gathered from:

  • Voter registration records
  • Utility applications
  • Court and criminal files
  • Marriage & divorce filings
  • Automobile registrations
  • Public birth indexes
  • And more public sources

With a premium unlimited search, the major background check services claim to find dates of birth for over 90% of adults in the US. However you generally need to have at least the person’s full name and state of residence to generate successful date of birth search results.

Background check sites offer convenience at a cost. Expect to pay $40-70 per month for unlimited access and reports. While pricier than self-service public records sites, the breadth of data sources searched by background check services makes them very effective for finding dates of birth with minimal effort.

Check Social Media Profiles

Searching someone’s social media profiles offers another option to potentially uncover their birthdate. Many people list their complete date of birth on sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. This DOB field is optional on most social platforms, but a surprising number of users still choose to share it publicly on their profiles.

To find someone’s birthdate on their social media accounts, first make sure your own profile is set to public. Then search for their profile and look for any available “About” section that may state their birthdate. On Facebook, you can also look for posts on the person’s timeline wishing them a happy birthday, which often include their birth date.

Keep in mind that not everyone provides their exact DOB on social media. And entered birthdates may be fabricated. However if you can identify active social profiles belonging to the person you are searching for, checking for an advertised birthdate can provide a useful starting point.

Some other tips for finding dates of birth via social media:

  • Expand your search across all active platforms like Twitter, Snapchat, LinkedIn etc. The more profiles you find, the more chances to uncover their DOB.
  • Look for evidence of birthyear if not the exact birthdate. Their listed age or noted zodiac sign can help narrow down the year.
  • For common names, corroborate that you have the right person through profile photos or location info.

With over 80% of American adults active on social platforms, checking for birthdate listings across someone’s social media presence can yield successful results.

Check Online Public Records Search Directories

Public records search directories essentially compile links and information on finding personal records on government-run websites. These people search directories allow you to look up which state and county agencies hold specific records on a person’s births, marriages, criminal history, deaths, and more.

Many public record search services like Intelius, Anywho, PeopleFinders, and Radaris operate online directories that make it easy to lookup where official vital records like birth certificates are housed for state residents.

For instance, if you were searching for the birth record of someone born in Dallas, Texas, these public information search engines would point you to contact the Texas Vital Statistics Unit run by the Texas Department of State Health Services. From there, you could request the official birth certificate copy from the governing agency directly.

This record lookup technique is most useful when you already know key details like someone’s birth state and county. The directory sites provide the links and forms needed to then obtain the authoritative birth certificate copy from the correct administrative body. While not an instant find, public records directories effectively guide genealogists, attorneys, and others searching for documents like birth and death certificates.

Search Birth Announcements in Newspapers

Historically, new births were announced in local newspapers to publicly share the news of a child’s arrival. Birth announcements typically include details like the baby’s name, birthdate, birth weight, parents, and other family info. Many families still send birth announcements to their local paper today.

Newspaper birth announcements can provide documentary evidence of a birth date. If you have an approximate location of where someone was born, searching historical local newspaper archives may uncover a birth notice. Many newspapers have digitized their historical classifieds sections, allowing keyword searches for names and birth years. Sites like Newspapers.com host hundreds of newspaper archives that can be scoured for birth notices.

Success depends on the person’s birth details and age. Birth announcements were more common decades ago before social media. And small local papers are less likely to have digitized searchable archives. However, if you have a name and time period to go off of, finding a published birth announcement in a newspaper archive can provide solid DOB substantiation.

Search School Class Yearbooks

School yearbooks are another valuable resource to look for documented dates of birth, especially for older adults. Most school yearbooks list the graduating year and ages of students. If you can track down someone’s high school or even middle school yearbook, it should provide clear evidence of their birth year if not their complete birthdate.

Many libraries and genealogy sites like Ancestry.com have digitized yearbook collections that can be browsed online. You can also search for the specific high school’s alumni groups or archived yearbooks. With a known graduating class and school, looking up the yearbook for that graduation year can confirm a birth year and age. The person’s precise birthdate is sometimes included in their student profile as well.

Finding school yearbooks is contingent on having some key starting details like high school attended and graduation year. But when available, school yearbooks provide an authoritative resource to validate birthdates for older individuals.

Search Genealogy Sites and Databases

Genealogy websites like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, Findmypast, and MyHeritage contain billions of historical records that may include dates of birth for family members. These sites have searchable databases of birth, marriage, census, immigration, and death records that can be used to piece together dates of birth.

If you have information on the target person’s family history or origins, genealogy databases may have records like:

  • Birth certificates listing the exact DOB
  • Census forms stating age at time of survey
  • Marriage records identifying age or birth year
  • Death certificates noting date of birth
  • Gravestone etchings with DOB
  • Church baptism records mentioning birthdate

By tracing relatives and ancestry, the interconnected family records on genealogy sites can provide supporting evidence pointing to a person’s date of birth. Some sites like Ancestry also have search filters explicitly for finding Birth, Baptism & Christening records helpful for pinpointing DOB.

Accessing genealogical databases generally requires a paid monthly membership starting around $20/month. And historical records may not be available for all people. But for those researching family histories, searching genealogy collections can uncover confirmable birthdates.

Hire a Private Investigator

When all else fails, you can hire a professional private investigator to research and find out a living person’s date of birth for you. Private investigators have access to advanced background check tools and databases beyond what average consumers can access.

A licensed private investigator can pull up documents and public records listing an individual’s birthdate that may include:

  • Birth certificates
  • School registration records
  • Passport files
  • Marriage licenses
  • Divorce decrees
  • Voter registrations
  • Utility applications
  • Vehicle registrations
  • Tax records
  • And any other documented source containing DOB

Reputable private investigators rely on legal public records searches to uncover authenticated dates of birth. They should never obtain personal records through illegal means.

Hiring a PI is expensive, with costs typically starting around $50 per hour. Smaller basic record searches may cost a flat rate of $300-$500. But for challenging cases without easy digital footprints, a professional investigator may be the best option for definitively determining a date of birth.

Consult a Doctor or Medical Records

In certain circumstances, medical records may verify a person’s date of birth if other routes are exhausted. A doctor who has treated someone for a long period may be able to confirm their birthdate. Dentists may also have patient DOB in records.

If you have access to past medical files, physician notes and test results may also list the person’s birthdate for identification. However medical facilities rightly guard patient privacy closely. Only doctors, close relatives, or those with power of attorney can request private health records.

Still, doctors are sometimes willing and legally able provide basic non-sensitive information like a patient’s age or date of birth. Those searching for DOB confirmation for caregiving or tax purposes may be able to get physician assistance. When all else fails, doctors may aid in verifying dates of birth while protecting full medical confidentiality.

Consider Hiring a Private Investigator

If you have tried all conventional options to no avail, consider hiring a private investigator to uncover the birth date. Private investigators have access to advanced background check tools and in-depth databases that go beyond what is available to the general public.

A licensed private investigator can legally pull up a wide variety of private and public records that may contain the target person’s date of birth, including:

– Birth certificates
– Passports
– Marriage/divorce records
– Voter registrations
– Property deeds
– Tax records
– School registrations
– Financial applications
– DMV records

The downside is cost – private investigators typically charge at least $50/hour. Yet for challenging cases with limited information to go on, a professional investigator may be the best (albeit expensive) route to definitively determining a date of birth.

Find the Gravesite

For deceased individuals, locating their gravesite can provide confirmation of their date of birth and death. Most gravestones and cemetery markers include the birth year and full date of birth and death.

Gravesites of more recent deaths are easiest to find through online obituary notices and funeral home records. Historical graves from decades past may be indexed on genealogy websites like FindAGrave.com. You can also check directly with the cemeteries in the area the person lived.

With over 100 million grave records searchable online, finding and physically visiting a gravestone can serve as definitive documentation of birth info for those who have passed if other records prove elusive.

Conclusion

Searching for someone’s date of birth can seem tricky but multiple options and records exist to aid your search. Asking directly, checking official birth certificates and public data records, scouring social media profiles, accessing genealogical databases, and employing a private investigator offer your best chances to uncover verified birth dates and ages.

With persistence across these sources, the specific day, month and year when someone was born can ultimately be found. Do you have any other techniques for finding out dates of birth? Let us know in the comments if other creative solutions have worked for pinpointing birthdays and years for you!