How to Contact the Domain Registrant: A Step-by-Step Guide

A Domain Registrant is the owner and primary contact of a domain name. The Domain Registrant can be an individual or a business. If you have any questions related to a domain name, you will need to contact the Domain Registrant.

Domains with Private Registration have the Registrant’s information protected. These domains have a secure web form you will use to submit your request to the Domain Registrant.

In this article, we will discuss:

• Locating the Domain Registrant
• Contacting the Domain Registrant
• Someone Sent Me a Message About My Domain
• Review

Locating the Domain Registrant

1. You can use the WHOIS Lookup tool.
2. In the Search Bar, enter the domain name and click SEARCH.
   


3. The website may prompt you to verify that you are not an automated program. Complete this step to proceed to the search results.
4. Next, you will find the WHOIS Results. The Registrant will be listed next to the Registrant’s Name.
   Note: If the Domain name is protected with Domain Privacy the registrant information will not show as shown in the example below.
   

Contacting the Domain Registrant

1. When checking WHOIS, if the Registrant’s Name and Email Address:
   1. Can Be Seen - Stop! This domain does not have Private Registration. You can use the WHOIS results or contact the current registrar for further assistance.
   2. Says Perfect Privacy, LLC – This Registrant’s contact information is protected by privacy. Move on to step two.
2. Scroll down to the bottom of the WHOIS Results page and click SEND A MESSAGE.
   


3. Complete the Domain Contact Request form, then click SUBMIT.
   


4. You have successfully sent a message to the domain owner.

Someone Sent Me a Message About My Domain

As a domain owner, you may receive a message from a third party regarding your domain name. If you have Private Registration, they will complete a secure web form to submit the request. This form allows people interested in your domain to contact you while maintaining the privacy that Private Registration offers.

You can reply, forward the message, or ignore the message. Below is what you may experience.

I have a Private Registration

• A third party will send the Registrant a message using the form on the WHOIS Results page.
• ICANN regulations require that we pass these inquiries on to you, though you are not obligated to respond.
• The Registrant will receive a message that a third party is trying to reach them.
• The Registrant can reply, forward the message, or ignore the message.
• See How to Manage Your Domain WHOIS Information for instructions on managing WHOIS contacts and domain privacy.

I have a Private Registration

• A third party will reach out to the Registrant using the contact information found by searching WHOIS.
• The message will be sent to the Registrant directly from that party.
• The Registrant can reply, forward the message, or ignore the message.
• See How to Manage Your Domain WHOIS Information for instructions on managing WHOIS contacts and domain privacy.

Review

This article offers a detailed how-to on how to contact the owner of any domain, even if their information is protected by privacy settings. It provides step-by-step instructions on utilizing the WHOIS lookup tool to identify the Domain Registrant and explains the process of sending messages to them, regardless of whether they have private registration or not. It will serve as a useful resource for anyone needing to get in touch with a domain owner or understand the communication process surrounding domain ownership.