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Question:I can't find any information on my dad's side of the family. He died about 4 years ago. I am having trouble because I don't know for sure how to spell his last name. My parents where never married. I want to do a family tree. I keep coming up empty handed when I try different spellings in the census. Also now that he's gone, how can I make sure he was really my dad?


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I can't find any information on my dad's side of the family. He died about 4 years ago. I am having trouble because I don't know for sure how to spell his last name. My parents where never married. I want to do a family tree. I keep coming up empty handed when I try different spellings in the census. Also now that he's gone, how can I make sure he was really my dad?

If he is that recently deceased you might want to get a copy of his obituary from the local newspaper where he died.
It would give information on him that close relatives provided. You can do and archives search on the newspaper obituaries to find him using an approx. year and try several spellings of his name.
A DNA test on yourself and a living parent or sibling of his would give you assurance that he was your dad.
Good luck to you.

Is your birth certificate available It could be listed on it

If your dad only died 4 yrs ago, was he born prior to 1930? That is the only way he would show up in any census in the US. His ancestors might.. but you probably need some more solid recent facts for starters.
As suggested, he should be on the birth certificate.. unless mom chose to not put him down. As for the time being, you'll have to assume mom is being honest. The alternative way would be DNA test, but without him around to consent, that is a near impossibility.
If you are in the US, he should be (we hope) in the social security death index, which would hopefully supply you with exact dates, and where he lived when he died. Next thing would be trying to find a possible obit. I will assume he married, and may have other children. It does not mean that you intend to make contact, since that is a major can of worms. You MIGHT be able to learn who his parents were, although obits range from none at all, one liners or full bios.
Its your choice if you want to post what you think is the name, or www.rootsweb.com has the ssdi, which you can search. My advice is to go to the advanced search.. that way you can filter for approx yr of death, and use just the surname (in case his legal name was other than what you know.
The other option.. is mom. You are the only one who can choose if it is something she will help you with (like where he lived, possible relatives, so forth). I never advise that you do what will hurt someone.
Just some reassurance.. many many persons deal with no info on dad. It's tough to put it out there, but you are not alone.

Is Mom willing to give out info? Do you know where your Dad died or is buried? Get the cemetery records and perhaps his death certificate and go from there.