How do you know if a lost person is still alive?

Verified 29 December 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

To find out if a missing person is still alive, you can contact the city hall of their municipality of birth or residence.

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You know his date and place of birth

You can request a birth certificate without parentage of the missing person to know if he or she is still alive.

You don't have to be related to her.

If the person has died, the information is in marginal mention.

The person was born in France

You can request a birth certificate.

On the spot

You must contact the town hall of birth of the data subject.

For a request for an extract without any affiliation, no document is required.

Who shall I contact
By mail

You must send an email to the town hall of birth specifying the following:

  • Name of the data subject
  • First name(s)
  • Date of birth
Who shall I contact
The person is French and born abroad

You can request a birth certificate.

By mail

You must send an email to Central Civil Registry Service specifying the following:

  • Name of the data subject
  • First name(s)
  • Date of birth
Who shall I contact

  • Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)

    Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad

     Only by mail to:

    Central Civil Registry Service

    11 White House Street

    44941 Nantes Cedex 09

    The service is not open to the public.

    You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.

    For more information, you can:

    • Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
    • Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
      Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing
    • Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr

You know his last home

You can contact the municipality of the municipality of the last residence.

If the person has died, a copy of death certificate can be given to you.

You don't have to provide any proof.

Who shall I contact

FYI  

it is no longer possible to file a demand for research in the interests of families.

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