In the vast majority of cases, genealogical search cases begin in almost the same way. On one side is someone who is searching, and on the other, someone who does not want to be found, though it is not a conscious choice, but rather a series of different life stories. In the case described, it was no different. Our client was interested in purchasing a property that had been neglected for years, overgrown with grass and shrubs. It was clearly evident that no one cared for it. No one, except for our client. When he came to us, he mentioned that he only had the name of the owner and the city, street name, and building number where the owner lived.
Challenges with an outdated address
“It’s not bad,” said our detective, taking these details from the client, but soon after, he regretted those words. A quick, basic query on the internet revealed that it wouldn’t be easy. First, the matter involved a large city in southern Poland; second, the building number referred to a tenement where many families lived; but third, and perhaps most importantly, the street name was from before 1989, when some street names from the PRL era were changed. While determining the current street name wasn’t difficult, the detective was already aware that the sought-after person’s data could be outdated, and that they could live anywhere in the world, not to mention the possibility that they might no longer be alive. Another difficulty was that the person’s surname belonged to a very common surname in Poland. There is no need to explain how such a combination of facts can complicate the search.
Analysis of Available Data
With such scarce data, the detective began by analyzing what was certain. First, he determined the current land registry number for the building whose address the client provided. Unfortunately, the tenement had 10 apartments, but not all of them had land registries, and it wasn’t certain whether the sought-after surname was linked to a different apartment number than the ones that could be identified. Moreover, the land registries had been kept for the building since 2008, but we already know that the address of the person being searched was at least from nearly 20 years before. There was no other option; it was necessary to go to the field. Upon arriving at the location, the detective learned that the sought person had not lived at this address for years. After some time, the detective managed to get in touch with a man who had been the direct neighbor of the person sought, but this was in the early 1970s. This way, the detective learned the apartment number, which, as it turned out, had a land registry. The owner’s details had simply changed, and the original ones had not been included. The informant shared that the wife of the sought person had moved to another city after his death, but it was unknown to which one. Additionally, the witness had another valuable piece of information: the sought person died between 1975 and 1977. The detective felt that luck had finally smiled upon him, but it quickly turned out that the joy was premature. At the cemetery, he learned that the sought person’s grave no longer existed, as it had been… exhumed. However, it was known where it had been moved.
Finding the Heirs and the Conclusion of the Search
The situation required another trip. The detective went to the cemetery where the remains of the sought person had been relocated. Without difficulty, he found the right grave. The next step was to find someone who was the heir of the deceased. Since genealogical detective work can never lack twists, this time was no different. It turned out that the sought person had no children. However, this is where the fieldwork skills that distinguish a detective from those who only search from behind a computer screen came into play. After two days, he managed to find people who were distant relatives and, at the same time, heirs. Thanks to combining traditional fieldwork methods with modern research tools, the detective was able to track down the heirs and close the case successfully.
Summary
In conclusion, the described case is an excellent example of how complicated genealogical searches can be, especially when the starting point consists only of fragmentary information. Each stage of the process required the detective not only to be meticulous and possess advanced analytical skills but also to show persistence and flexibility in his actions. A key role was played by reaching out to witnesses, such as neighbors and former residents, who had important information. The detective also had to show flexibility, changing the direction of the search when encountering difficulties such as outdated data or changed surnames. Thanks to this, the detective was able to find the heirs, close the case, and help the client achieve his goal.
