How can I trace my family history?

[popelane24]

Hi my real dad ran out on us when I was a baby. I know his name and that is all I know of that side of the family. And then, my Mom was adopted by her parents so I cant trace that side either. But there must be a way. Can anyone help?

[Ted Pack]

Your mother should be able to guess your father's age within 10 years, and have some idea of his race. That isn't much help but shows that you should be able to find out more than just his name.

Assuming your mother and he talked before he ran out on her, she may know where he went to high school, or even where he was born. Those too are clues.

If you can get your mother's adoption records unsealed, you can find her birth mother, at least. Her birth father may be unknown. There are no free sites with adoption records. I don't know of any pay sites, either.

> But there must be a way

There are ways, but you may not have the time or money to pursue them. If you were rich you could hire a private detective. If you can find where your dad went to high school, and what year he graduated, (assuming he did graduate), you could write to everyone in his class who is on facebook, 5 people at a time, and ask if they knew him.

The Internet is powerful, but not magic.