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Original poster

How do I find out whether someone is still living or has died?

135 replies

AFrustratingSituation · 04/05/2026 20:09

What is the quickest, cheapest, easiest and most straightforward way of checking whether someone is still living or has died?

Thank you.

OP posts:
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6
TheBookShelf · 04/05/2026 22:57

HelenaWilson · 04/05/2026 20:17

Ancestry only has up to 2005.

Assuming you're in the UK, OP, go here:
Order a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership certificate - GOV.UK

The process is different in different parts of the UK, but the site will guide you. You can search for a name for free, but need to pay if you want to order a certificate.

You can search the birth indexes too, to find the year of birth.

Ancestry does also have much more recent info which it pulls from the main UK funeral notices site:

funeral-notices.co.uk/

Happyjoe · 04/05/2026 22:45

We tried to track down my brother who'd not seen for 30 years, hired a private detective. He found him quite quickly. And yeah, was alive. An option if you don't get any info with the suggestions on here.

Talkinpeace · 04/05/2026 22:24

Coldcoffeekindamorning · 04/05/2026 22:22

I've been searching for someone too and it seems pretty impossible. People dont have to register the right name or date of birth even in death records. I asked the same question here a while back and the only answer is private investigator. I don't have the money for one but I'm still somehow trying to find my person. Good luck OP!

Eh,

Signing off a death certificate with false information
is a criminal offence
(because it could be covering up murder)

Coldcoffeekindamorning · 04/05/2026 22:22

I've been searching for someone too and it seems pretty impossible. People dont have to register the right name or date of birth even in death records. I asked the same question here a while back and the only answer is private investigator. I don't have the money for one but I'm still somehow trying to find my person. Good luck OP!

HelenaWilson · 04/05/2026 22:15

Unfortunately there isn’t a national death certificate database.

There is one for each of the countries in the UK - Eng & Wales, NI and Scotland.

HoldMyWine · 04/05/2026 22:07

If you think they are dead you can check with the registrar where they lived. Unfortunately there isn’t a national death certificate database.

GoodVibesHere · 04/05/2026 22:07

Go to Oda Mae Brown and see if she can channel their spirit?

Original poster
AFrustratingSituation · 04/05/2026 22:03

Thepott2 · 04/05/2026 20:58

And you don’t know anyone at all connected to them?

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It's a complicated situation.

I just really wanted to know how to go about it if the obvious channels weren't an option.

OP posts:
SingedSoul · 04/05/2026 21:41

PullyDog · 04/05/2026 20:52

Fucking hell that tickled me 😂😂

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It was a risk that paid off then! 😆

Talkinpeace · 04/05/2026 21:34

If you know roughly where they live (city, county)
call the coroner's office
and get them to do a swift death certificate check

I have an estranged family member who I check in on once a year
the coroner (not in the UK) is very cool
they cannot tell me when or where or why, but they can tell me if

it keeps me relaxed

NotDavidTennant · 04/05/2026 21:33

If all you have is a name then, unless it's distinctive, you're going to find it difficult.

Notmyreality · 04/05/2026 21:25

Ask them.

Studyunder · 04/05/2026 21:03

I’m assuming you’re not in Scotland as I’d expect your googling to have told you. However, in case you are, the Scotlandspeople government website tell you all deaths. Create a free account then search.
I hope you manage to find what you’re after💐

Thepott2 · 04/05/2026 20:58

AFrustratingSituation · 04/05/2026 20:57

I can't contact them. I no longer know where they live.

Google search has thrown up nothing, unfortunately.

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And you don’t know anyone at all connected to them?

Original poster
AFrustratingSituation · 04/05/2026 20:58

Thepott2 · 04/05/2026 20:53

Go around to their house?
ring them?
Ask someone who would know?

All very strange though!

I can't do this.

OP posts:
Original poster
AFrustratingSituation · 04/05/2026 20:57

previouslyknownas · 04/05/2026 20:44

Call them

turn up at their home

put there name into Google along with where they live

that often brings up surprising stuff

Show quote history

I can't contact them. I no longer know where they live.

Google search has thrown up nothing, unfortunately.

OP posts:
Thepott2 · 04/05/2026 20:53

Go around to their house?
ring them?
Ask someone who would know?

All very strange though!

PullyDog · 04/05/2026 20:52

SingedSoul · 04/05/2026 20:34

Check for a pulse!

Fucking hell that tickled me 😂😂

previouslyknownas · 04/05/2026 20:44

AFrustratingSituation · 04/05/2026 20:09

What is the quickest, cheapest, easiest and most straightforward way of checking whether someone is still living or has died?

Thank you.

Call them

turn up at their home

put there name into Google along with where they live

that often brings up surprising stuff

AInightingale · 04/05/2026 20:38

Ancestry has family trees which (I think) are searchable with a free membership. If any of their relatives are into family history, they may have included them in a tree if they are deceased - privacy settings mean that living persons aren't named though.

Original poster
AFrustratingSituation · 04/05/2026 20:36

SingedSoul · 04/05/2026 20:34

Check for a pulse!

Ha, that would make.life a lot easier!!

OP posts:
SingedSoul · 04/05/2026 20:34

Check for a pulse!

Original poster
AFrustratingSituation · 04/05/2026 20:31

It's not inheritance related and, as far a si know, there was no estate. They have adult children.

OP posts:
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