Next of Kin Searches for Hospitals

In short: when a patient is unconscious or cannot speak and there is no ID or contact, a licensed investigator can search records and public sources for relatives, then reach them discreetly so the hospital can get consent and plan discharge. Crossroads does this for hospitals across Florida and nationwide.

The same help is there when a patient has died and no family is on record, or when a patient’s identity is still unknown. Hospital case management, social work, discharge planning and decedent affairs teams use us to find the relatives they need to reach.

You have a patient who is unconscious, unable to communicate, and has no identification or contact information. The clock is ticking, and critical medical decisions need to be made. As a hospital staff member, you’re doing everything you can to track down a family member—but traditional methods aren’t working. What now?

This is where skip tracing services can help. Private investigators at Crossroads Investigations specialize in locating hard-to-find individuals, including the next of kin for incapacitated, deceased and unidentified patients. If you’re struggling to find a patient’s family member, skip tracing for hospitals can be the solution that brings peace of mind to both you and the patient’s loved ones.

Skip Tracing for Hospitals: Help Finding Next of Kin

Skip tracing services offer a viable solution to locate and notify family members, ensuring that medical decisions are made with the necessary consent and support. Crossroads Investigations stands ready to assist healthcare institutions in navigating these complex scenarios with professionalism, efficiency, and empathy. By partnering with us, hospitals can enhance their patient care.

Next of Kin for Deceased and Unidentified Patients

When a patient dies with no known next of kin, the hospital still has to reach a relative: to tell the family, and to learn who will make decisions about the patient’s remains. Decedent affairs and morgue staff, case managers and social workers can bring us in when their own searches have stalled.

When a patient’s identity is unknown, we start from what the hospital has: photos, belongings, where and when the patient was found or admitted, and what first responders recorded. From there we look for people who may know the patient. Formal identification stays with the hospital, the medical examiner or law enforcement.

In both cases we confirm who a relative is before the hospital is told, and the hospital decides who speaks with the family and how.

Why Finding Next of Kin Can Be Difficult

When a patient is admitted without ID and is unable to provide information, the process of identifying and locating their family becomes challenging. Hospitals often try multiple approaches to find a patient’s next of kin, including:

• Checking the patient’s belongings for identification
• Searching medical records for emergency contacts
• Contacting law enforcement for missing persons reports
• Reviewing public social media profiles for potential family members

Even with these steps, there are times when a patient’s family remains out of reach. That’s where skip tracing services come in.

How Skip Tracing for Hospitals Works

Skip tracing is a specialized investigative process that locates individuals who are difficult to find. In the case of hospitals, this means finding a patient’s family member when no clear information is available. Crossroads Investigations has the expertise and resources to locate next of kin quickly and discreetly, helping you provide the best possible care.

Our skip tracing process includes:

• Gathering Initial Data – Using any available details from the hospital, including patient belongings, medical records, and information from first responders.
• Database and Public Record Searches – Leveraging advanced search tools to scan nationwide databases, public records, and other sources.
• Social Media and Online Investigations – Identifying potential relatives through social media connections and digital footprints.
• Direct Outreach – Contacting possible family members sensitively and discreetly to confirm relationships.

This structured approach increases the likelihood of successfully finding a patient’s family member, providing crucial support when it’s needed most.

See also our guide for nurse care managers and how hospitals use private investigators for skip traces.

Who We Work With in the Hospital

Each team comes to us with a different deadline. We work with:

• Case Management and Social Work – A patient who cannot make decisions has no known family or surrogate, and someone has to be found before care and discharge decisions can move forward.
• Discharge Planning – A patient is ready to leave, and a relative is needed to help with the next placement or to take the patient home.
• Decedent Affairs and Morgue Staff – A patient has died with no next of kin on record, and the family must be found to be notified and to make arrangements.
• Emergency Department – A patient arrives without ID, and staff need to learn who the patient is and whom to call.
• Risk Management and Legal – The hospital needs a written record of who was found and how.

Why Hospitals Trust Crossroads Investigations for Skip Tracing Services

Crossroads Investigations is a nationally recognized private investigation agency with a strong reputation for accuracy, discretion, and professionalism. We understand the urgency of hospital cases and work efficiently to locate the next of kin for incapacitated, deceased and unidentified patients.

Hospitals turn to us because we offer:

• Speed & Efficiency – Our methods help track down next of kin faster than traditional searches.
• Compliance & Confidentiality – We follow all legal and ethical standards, ensuring patient privacy is protected.
• Specialized Expertise – Led by a former CIA officer, our team brings extensive investigative experience to each case.
• Compassionate Approach – We understand that hospital staff members are under pressure, and we treat each case with the sensitivity it deserves.
• Licensed and Established – Crossroads is a Florida-licensed private investigation agency (License A2900334), in business since 2008.

When standard searches fail, hospitals can rely on Crossroads Investigations for professional, results-driven skip tracing services.

Crossroads Investigations: Your Partner in Skip Tracing

Crossroads Investigations is a full-service private investigation and due diligence agency with a nationwide presence. Our team specializes in skip tracing services, offering hospitals the expertise needed to find next of kin for incapacitated, deceased and unidentified patients. Led by a former CIA officer, our agency combines advanced investigative techniques with a deep understanding of the healthcare sector’s unique challenges.

How a Hospital Case Works

What the hospital sends us. The patient name if known, any ID or personal items, where and when the patient was found or admitted, and what first responders recorded. We handle only what is needed to find family. For a deceased patient, also send the date of death and, if the medical examiner is involved, the case number and the investigator’s name. Tell us your deadline, such as a planned discharge date or how long the hospital can hold the remains.

What we do. We search public records and databases for relatives and addresses, review open online sources, and cross-check what we find. We contact likely relatives and confirm who they are before the hospital is told.

What the hospital gets. A written report of who we found, how we know and how to reach them. The hospital decides how to proceed with the family. We do not give medical advice or share patient details beyond what is needed to reach a relative. Every report documents all search efforts made, regardless of outcome.

How a case starts. Call (866) 976-2371 or use the contact form. We tell you what we need and what to expect. During business hours (Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern), we respond within two hours.

Patient Privacy and PHI

We ask only for the patient information needed to find family, and we use it only for that search. Send patient details by phone, by email or through your hospital’s own secure portal, never through the general web form. We will sign your hospital’s Business Associate Agreement (BAA) if one is required.

Vendor setup: we can work through your hospital’s supplier registration process. Our Florida agency license number and a certificate of insurance can be provided on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do hospitals find next of kin for a patient with no ID?

They check belongings and medical records, ask police for missing person reports and review public profiles. If that fails, they hire an investigator to search records and contact likely relatives.

Who can hire you for a next of kin search?

Hospital case managers, social workers, discharge planners, decedent affairs staff, risk managers and legal departments. Attorneys and guardianship cases also use us.

Is it legal and private?

Yes. We use lawful records and open sources, and we limit what we share to what is needed to reach a relative.

What if the patient may not want us to find family?

The hospital stays in charge of that decision. Tell us what you know and we raise it before anyone is contacted.

How do you contact family?

Discreetly and by phone or in person, after we confirm the person is a relative.

What do you need from us?

Anything the hospital has: name, photos, belongings, admission details, first responder notes. For a deceased patient, add the date of death and any medical examiner case number.

Do you work outside Florida?

Yes, nationwide.

How much does it cost?

Hospital cases are $500/case.

Can you find next of kin for a patient who has died?

Yes. When a patient dies with no known family, we search for relatives and confirm who they are. The hospital, or the medical examiner where involved, decides who tells the family.

Can you help with an unidentified patient?

Yes. We work from what the hospital has, such as photos, belongings, where the patient was found and first responder notes, to find people who may know the patient. Formal identification stays with the hospital, the medical examiner or law enforcement.

How quickly do you respond?

During business hours (Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern), we respond within two hours. Investigations are often completed in 1-2 business days after we receive enough information to start.

How do you handle patient information (PHI)?

We ask only for what is needed to find family and use it only for the search. Send patient details by phone, by email or through your hospital’s own secure portal, not the web form. We will sign your hospital’s Business Associate Agreement (BAA) if one is required.

Updated October 2026.

How to Engage Our Services

Hospitals seeking to utilize our skip tracing services can initiate the process by contacting us through the following methods:

• Phone: (866) 976-2371
• Email: info@Xinvestigations.com
• Online Form: Complete our contact form to receive a prompt response.

Hospital teams: tell us your role (case management, social work, discharge planning or decedent affairs), how urgent the request is and the steps already taken. Please keep patient identifiers out of the online form.