Where to Find USPS Mailing Addresses

One of the greatest challenges for those of us who love to handwrite and mail our notes and letters is finding a current mailing address. Most of my friends and family have ditched their landlines and gotten cell phones, so what used to be my most reliable source of addresses—the phone book—is now rarely helpful.

What to do?

I turned to ChatGPT and got more than I bargained for, but I include it all here in case it’s helpful. I pay about $25 a year for a subscription to Whitepages.com and use it often with good success.

1. Online directories and People Search Websites

• Whitepages.com – Basic searches are free, but premium services provide more details.

• Spokeo.com – Aggregates public records and social media information.
• BeenVerified.com – Paid service with address history, phone numbers, and more.
• Intelius.com – Another paid search option with background information.
• PeopleFinders.com – Offers access to public records for a fee.

2. Public Records and Government Databases

• County Property Tax Records – Most counties have online property databases where you can search by name.
• Voter Registration Databases – Some states allow you to look up voter registration details.
• Local Court Records – Lawsuits, deeds, or other legal filings may list addresses.
• Business Licenses and Corporate Filings – If they own a business, their address may be listed in public records.

3. Social Media and Online Footprints

• Facebook – Some users share their city, neighborhood, or even street address.
• LinkedIn – While addresses are rarely listed, workplace locations can give clues.
• Instagram & X– People sometimes share location-based posts.
• Google Search – Try searching their name with “address,” “residence,” or “contact.”

4. USPS and Postal Resources

• USPS Address Change Database – If you have an old address, you can mail a letter marked “Address Correction Requested.”
• Send a Letter to Last Known Address – If forwarded, USPS may send it to the new address.
• Post Office Inquiry – If you have a legitimate reason, the USPS may provide a forwarding address.

5. Professional and Association Memberships

• Alumni Directories – Schools often keep records of alumni addresses.
• Professional Licensing Boards – Doctors, lawyers, and other professionals may have addresses on file.
• Trade Organizations and Unions – Some list member addresses in directories.

6. Property and Real Estate Records

• County Assessor’s Website – If they own property, their address is often public.
• Title Search Services – Real estate title companies can pull address records.
• Local Tax Office – Property tax records often list owners’ mailing addresses.

7. Reverse Lookup and Alternative Search Methods

• Reverse Phone Lookup – Services like Whitepages Premium may provide an address. if you have only their phone number.
• Email Lookup Services – Sites like Hunter.io or BeenVerified sometimes have mailing addresses linked to emails.
• Whois Domain Lookup – If they own a website, their registration details might include an address.

8. Asking Mutual Contacts

• Friends and Family – If you have mutual connections, they might be able to help.
• Former Employers or Colleagues – If you know where they worked, HR may have forwarding details.
• Neighbors – If you know their previous location, nearby residents might have updates.

9. Renting a Skip Tracer or Private Investigator

• Skip Tracing Services – Used for locating people who are hard to find.
• Private Investigators – If other methods fail, a PI can legally obtain addresses.

If you have found other legal and ethical ways to get reliable mailing addresses, please let me know in the comments below or through the website’s contact form.