How to Report a Missing Person in the U.S.

When a loved one stops answering and something feels wrong, it can be hard to know what to do first. Start with their safety: contact law enforcement, explain the circumstances clearly, and keep a record of what you know. You do not need to solve the disappearance before asking for help.

If there is immediate danger, suspected violence, or an urgent threat to someone’s safety, call 911. Missing Faces is an awareness website, not an emergency service or a substitute for a police report.

1. Contact the appropriate law enforcement agency

Contact local police or the sheriff’s office where the person was last seen, or ask your local agency which department should take the report. Explain why the absence is unusual and identify any safety concerns, including a child’s age, a disability, a medical need, threats, or suspicious circumstances. For a non-emergency, use the agency’s official non-emergency number.

Do you have to wait 24 or 48 hours?

Do not assume that you must wait before contacting police. Federal law prohibits a waiting-period policy before accepting a missing child report. NCMEC tells families to contact law enforcement immediately when a child is missing. [1, 2]

Adult reporting rules and agency procedures can vary. Seattle Police and Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police explicitly say that people do not have to wait to report someone missing in their jurisdictions. The Congressional Research Service describes differences in state and local responses to missing adults. Contact the agency now rather than relying on a rule you heard online. If you are told to wait, explain every urgent risk and ask how to reach a supervisor or the appropriate reporting agency. [3, 4, 5]

2. Gather information for the report

Write down confirmed details and label anything uncertain as unknown. A practical checklist includes:

Full name, aliases, date of birth or age, and a recent clear photograph.
The last confirmed contact: date, time, place, and who saw or spoke with them.
Height, weight, hair and eye color, tattoos, scars, and other identifying details.
Clothing, a vehicle description, license plate, or a planned route, if known.
Known medical needs, vulnerabilities, threats, or reasons their safety may be at risk.
People or places investigators may need to contact and your own reliable contact information.

Keep the report moving even if some details are unavailable. Tell the officer what you know, what you do not know, and where a detail came from. Give sensitive medical information or personal identifiers directly to law enforcement rather than posting them publicly.

3. If a child is missing, contact NCMEC after police

After reporting the child to law enforcement, call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). Ask law enforcement to enter the child’s identifying information into the FBI’s NCIC Missing Person File. NCMEC can work with the family and investigating agency on resources such as posters and leads. Do not delay an urgent report while searching on your own. [1]

An AMBER Alert is not automatic for every missing child. It is a law enforcement alert used for qualifying serious child-abduction situations. Ask the investigating agency what alerts and other tools are appropriate. [6]

4. Keep a clear record and preserve information

Ask for the report or case number, the agency’s name, a contact person, and instructions for sending new information. Maintain a dated log of calls, messages, possible sightings, and the people you contacted. Keep original texts, emails, photographs, and other relevant material; ask investigators how they want it provided.

Separate a confirmed sighting from a rumor. Send potential evidence and urgent tips to the agency handling the case. Avoid confronting people, trespassing, or posting accusations online. New information is most useful when investigators can see who provided it and when.

5. Ask about NamUs and share approved information

Ask the investigating agency whether a case should be entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Families can contribute case information, but NamUs checks it with the investigating agency before public publication. A law enforcement report must already be on file; NamUs does not replace that first report. [7]

For a public flyer, use a current approved photo, verified last-seen details, and the agency’s public phone number. Do not include private addresses, identity documents, or unnecessary personal information. Keep posts current, and correct or remove active-missing material when the agency confirms a status change.

How Missing Faces can help

After making the official report, you can submit a Missing Person case to Missing Faces for review. Include a working official reference, the agency’s contact information, and photos you have permission to share. Approved profiles provide a public case page, source links, dated updates, and a branded flyer. Tips should go to the investigating agency, not through our general contact form.

Quick answers

Can I report an adult missing?

Contact the appropriate law enforcement agency and explain the safety concerns. Adults may leave voluntarily, and privacy can affect what an agency shares after locating them. Do not assume that missing automatically means a crime has occurred. [5]

Should I submit to Missing Faces before calling police?

No. Contact law enforcement first, and call 911 for an emergency. Our submission process is for reviewed public awareness, not emergency response.

Sources and External References

Dated Updates

October 11, 2026: Published with official reporting resources reviewed on this date. Follow the investigating agency’s current instructions.

How to Report a Loved One Missing in the United States