Finding Estranged Parent?

I posted this earlier in "free for all" and didnt get any response, hoping that you ladies can help me out. Does anyone know how to go about finding an estranged parent? I have never met my father or even seen a picture, however when I was younger we talked on the phone a few times and exchanged letters. Somehow we lost contact over the years (im 21 now) and I havent spoken to him in a very long time. I have tried finding him online through various searches, but I havent found him. It makes it difficult to find him when I dont know all of the details, I know his first name and his last, but I dont know how to spell it? Im not sure about his age but im guessing somewhere in the 50-60's and Im not even sure about his location anymore although Im thinking he still lives in Arizona, but I cant be sure. Ive asked my mom, and she wasnt able to give me much info either. I would really love to re-connect with him, if anyone has any suggestions on how I could find him it would be greatly appreciated! TIA

Maybe try and contact a talk show and see if they'd be interested in helping you.

i saw this before, but i wasn't sure. i have heard of some people using private detectives or whatever. but... idk how expensive that would be. it could just be a matter of you asking around and finding friends/family members who remember him and making a lot of random calls.... good luck!

Honestly, I would get a one month membership to one of the websites that lists people's information for money. It's how I found out where BD was hiding out to avoid being served, except I just found the name of the person he was staying with and paid $1.99 for a one time view and passed the information on to CSE.
You could do the one month join and just start cold calling. Cheaper than a private detective adn I don't think anyone could get mad at someone calling to try and find their father.

Quoting Vodka Knockers:" Honestly, I would get a one month membership to one of the websites that lists people's information for ... [snip!] ... Cheaper than a private detective adn I don't think anyone could get mad at someone calling to try and find their father."

thanks! I thought about the membership thing, I just didnt trust some of the websites, damn scammers and all. but ill try to find a trusted website  

Quoting evilekat:" thanks! I thought about the membership thing, I just didnt trust some of the websites, damn scammers and all. but ill try to find a trusted website  "

I think I found BD through Spokeo, I don't remember for sure though.
It's accurate though. They'll give you a brief glimpse of the information (Age, general where abouts, etc) and then once you pay for the one time information or members fee, bam, it tells you EVERYTHING and I mean everything.
I think smurf would get done a lot easier with Child Support if they just got free access to the website or something.

Quoting MommaNoodle:" i saw this before, but i wasn't sure. i have heard of some people using private detectives or whatever. ... [snip!] ... matter of you asking around and finding friends/family members who remember him and making a lot of random calls.... good luck!"

ive actually thought about a private detective and I think its a great idea except for what you said, the price im sure is gunna be an issue. but maybe ill "shop" around and see on average what they charge, just to get an idea. thank you  

Quoting Vodka Knockers:" I think I found BD through Spokeo, I don't remember for sure though. It's accurate though. They'll give ... [snip!] ... I think smurf would get done a lot easier with Child Support if they just got free access to the website or something."

ill def try the website! And that reminds me...my mother used to get child support from him for me. Do you think they would still have his info on record? And if they do, would they even be able to give me that info?

Quoting evilekat:" ill def try the website! And that reminds me...my mother used to get child support from him for me. Do ... [snip!] ... for me. Do you think they would still have his info on record? And if they do, would they even be able to give me that info?"

There should be record of it, I would think. You may have to go to the Clerk of Courts for the area you lived in when the child support was being pursued/paid.
It may also depend on your age on whether or not they'd have it. Just call your Clerk of Court tomorrow and see if they can help you, or point you in the right direction.

Quoting Vodka Knockers:" There should be record of it, I would think. You may have to go to the Clerk of Courts for the area you ... [snip!] ... not they'd have it. Just call your Clerk of Court tomorrow and see if they can help you, or point you in the right direction."

Okay thanks again! I was thinking about going to Job and Family Services, I didnt even think of the Clerk of Court  

Quoting evilekat:" Okay thanks again! I was thinking about going to Job and Family Services, I didnt even think of the Clerk of Court  "

I'm guessing they would have record of the subpoenas and court information since 9/10 he'd have to be subpoenaed for just about anything related to child support. They'd have to subpoena him to establish paternity, establish child support, or any point that he didn't keep up with his child support and it became delinquent.

Quoting Vodka Knockers:" I'm guessing they would have record of the subpoenas and court information since 9/10 he'd have to be ... [snip!] ... paternity, establish child support, or any point that he didn't keep up with his child support and it became delinquent."

see, i didnt know that. thats a really great place to start!

Quoting evilekat:" see, i didnt know that. thats a really great place to start!"

I'm a mountain of legal information lol. Surprisingly, I switched majors from Accounting to Early Childhood and not Paralegal, though I would have done well in that field. I'd really like to go into social work but I can't afford four years for a degree right now