What Is a Permanent Address? Expert Answers

Dave Moore - February 15, 2025

While we’re increasingly moving into a digital world, physical addresses still remain important in our everyday lives. It’s quite common to be asked for your permanent address several times a week, whether you’re filling out forms, applying for a job, or signing up for a service. This address is your long-term residence. It’s where all your important mail can easily reach you.

In this article, we’ll talk about the difference between permanent and temporary addresses before diving into how to find someone’s address and why keeping your address updated is important. We’ll also talk about some privacy issues you might encounter and why knowing all this information is important.

Permanent Address vs Temporary Address

You’ve probably had more than one address throughout your life. Maybe you lived in a dorm during college, rented an apartment after that, and eventually settled into your own home. Some of these addresses are temporary, while others are called “permanent addresses.”

A permanent address is the place where you expect to live for a long time, usually indefinitely. It’s your location used for legal purposes, government records, and formal identification. Even if you move away to live with your parents or in another city for a while, this address will stay with you over the years. 

On the other hand, a temporary address is somewhere you live for a few months or years without expecting it to be your permanent home. This includes vacation rentals, college dormitories, or an apartment during a work assignment. You might still get mail at these places, but you wouldn’t consider this address to be a fixed part of your life.

How to Find a Permanent Address

At some point, you may need to find someone’s permanent address. You might need to serve legal notices, send important documents, or reconnect with someone from your past. Having the right address helps make sure communication and documentation go smoothly.

There are several ways you can find someone’s permanent address:

Using Public Records

Public records are a treasure trove of information whenever you need to find details about someone. These records include various documents, such as property deeds, voter registration files, tax records, and even court filings. All of this information can provide valuable details about where a person lives. For example, property deeds not only list the property owner’s name but also the property’s address.

The process of getting access to these records is simple. You can visit your local county office, like a recorder, assessor, or court clerk, where these documents are usually filed. Many governments have online databases for public records, so you might not even have to step outside.

Once you’re at the office, let the staff know what you’re looking for and give them a genuine reason for your search. If your reason makes sense, you’ll be able to access the documents and find the person’s permanent address.

Conducting an Online Search

Another easy way to find someone’s address is by doing an online search. A quick Google search using the person’s full name, city, or other identifying details can often be helpful. You might come across directories, public profiles, or news articles that provide clues about the person’s location.

Similarly, some people publicly list their city on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram. Snapchat also lets users share their exact location with each other anytime. This can give you useful hints for finding someone’s permanent address.

Using a Reverse Lookup Tool

A smarter way to find what you need is to use a reverse lookup tool like Information.com. This tool allows you to enter basic info, like a person’s full name, to access detailed reports that often include their permanent address.

It basically compiles publicly available data, like phone directories and other records, into one convenient report. So, if you enter someone’s full name, it’ll reveal all the associated past and present permanent and temporary addresses, as well as other contact details.

This method is especially handy if regular searches, like Google or the county recorder’s office, don’t work out. The whole process of using this tool takes only a few minutes. Plus, if you’re using a reliable tool like Information.com, you can rest assured that you’ll get the most accurate and up-to-date background information on any person or property.

Why Keeping Your Permanent Address Up-To-Date Is Important

Your permanent address is tied to many important legal documents, including your driver’s license, tax records, voter registration, and more. If you move and don’t update your address, you might miss important mail like tax forms, legal notices, or government benefits. Similarly, many services rely on your address for billing, subscriptions, and correspondence, so you need to keep it updated to avoid interruptions in service or late fees.

Any sensitive documents related to your bank accounts, credit cards, insurance policies, and other financial services are tied to your permanent address as well. If you don’t update your address, these records could be sent to your old address, putting you at risk of identity theft or fraud.

From a professional perspective, it’s important to keep your records up-to-date. Regardless of whether you’re applying for a new job, your employer needs a reliable way to reach you, especially for background checks to verify employment, official communications, or tax purposes. To avoid problems with HR, make sure to update your address and save yourself a lot of hassle later on. 

Privacy Concerns When Sharing Your Permanent Address

While it’s important to keep your permanent address updated, you should also be mindful about when and where you share it. Maintaining your privacy and security throughout your transactions is important. Here are a few things you need to consider when sharing your address with someone:

1. Private information like your permanent address doesn’t have to be shared online. Yes, you can add your city or state to your Tinder profile, but there’s no need to list your full address anywhere.  
2. Hackers and scammers often try to steal personal information like addresses. Be wary of unsolicited emails, phone calls, websites, or messages that ask for your permanent address. Legitimate companies never ask for this sort of data through informal channels.
3. You can always use a P.O. box for certain mail if you’re uncomfortable sharing your permanent address.
4. Not everyone needs your address information. Some online retailers or services might not need your permanent address if they only require shipping or billing information, so make sure to provide only what’s necessary.
5. When your permanent address is linked to other personal information, such as your shopping habits or online behavior, companies may use this data to create targeted ads or detailed consumer profiles. It might seem harmless at first, but it can quickly become invasive when ads are too specific or show just how much companies know about your personal life.
6. Many websites and companies collect and sell personal data to third-party data brokers, including your permanent address. These brokers compile large databases of personal information to sell to marketers, advertisers, or even malicious actors. Always read the privacy policies of websites before sharing your address, and opt out of data collection when possible.
7. If your permanent address falls into the wrong hands, it could lead to stalking or harassment. This could be an ex-partner, someone with malicious intent, or even a stranger on the internet. Make sure that your personal information is only shared with those you trust.

The Long-Term Significance of a Permanent Address

Your permanent address is a key part of who you are and connects you to everything around you. It’s the one contact point that usually stays the same for employers, service providers, government agencies, and others who need to get in touch with you.

While this address often stays the same, it can change in the long run if you find a new forever home. That’s why it’s important to keep everything up to date. If you ever need help figuring out your own or someone else’s permanent address, just follow the steps we’ve laid out in this article.