FAQs
Many funeral homes publish obituaries on their websites. These can usually be located with a Google search on the person's name. Local genealogical and historical societies, public libraries, and some newspaper publishers maintain clipping files of obituaries.
How do I find an obituary in Michigan? ›
ObitMichigan.com is dedicated to delivering immediate, up-to-date information on obituaries 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to families and friends in Mid-Michigan.
Why do I read obituaries? ›
For one, obituaries are stories with a closure unlike the daily news items that are generally interim reports. They are often good stories. One reads about remarkable accomplishments, odd achievements, quirky lives, wild adventures, strange vicissitudes, and forgotten personalities.
How do you find a person who passed away? ›
- Start an Online Search. Arguably the best way to find out whether or not someone you know has passed is to begin an online search. ...
- Check Social Media. ...
- Use Word of Mouth. ...
- Read The Paper or Watch The Local News. ...
- Go To An Archive Facility. ...
- Review Government Records.
What is the largest obituary website? ›
Legacy.com. Search the world's largest obituary database.
How to find out if someone died in Michigan? ›
Contact the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics, Vital Records Requests, P.O. Box 30721, Lansing MI 48909, or call 517-335-8666. Order forms are available online on the MDHHS website, too. Contact the county clerk in the county where the event occurred.
Where are death certificates filed in Michigan? ›
Death Certificates are filed in the county where the death occurred, search the Death Record Index to see all death certificates on file with the Branch County Clerk.
How do I find the maiden name in an obituary? ›
When writing an obituary for a woman who had a maiden name, simply write her first name and then in parentheses write her maiden name and then her married last name. For instance, Laura (Ingalls) Wilder, Marie (Sklodowska) Curie or Julia (McWilliams) Childs.
Is it disrespectful not to have an obituary? ›
Posting an obituary is not a legal requirement and is a sentimental action. Families don't have to publish one if they don't want it or do not have the funds to do so. While you do not have to share a death note or obituary, you must file a death certificate with your state's office.
Why do newspapers charge so much for obituaries? ›
Why does it cost so much to post an obituary? Publishing an obituary in the newspaper is expensive because of the limited space papers have. Newspapers value every inch of each page, so they must charge to use that limited space for an obituary.
Obituaries are not required by law , so the deceased's family might have chosen to forego publishing one. Publishing an obituary can be expensive , and the funds may be unavailable. The deceased has few family members or friends , so there might have, unfortunately, been no need for an obituary.
How to find out if someone has died in CA? ›
The California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) maintains a permanent, public record of every death that has occurred in California since July 1905.
How do I find an obituary for a specific person in FL? ›
Begin by entering the name of the person, the word obituary, and “Florida” into your favorite search engine. If the deceased had a common name, you might need to add additional search terms, such as the name of a family member, the town where they lived, or the date of death.
How do I find obituaries in the US by name for free? ›
Using Online and Print Newspapers to Find Free Obituaries
- Use Legacy.com to Search for a Free Obituary. ...
- Newspaper Archive Sites. ...
- Look for Obituaries in Newspapers at a Public Library. ...
- Ancestry.com and Its (Brief) Free Trial. ...
- MyHeritage Free Trial. ...
- FamilySearch. ...
- The Mormon Church Family History Library. ...
- Mennonite Archives.
How do I find an obituary for a specific person in New York? ›
New York Public Library subscribes to many databases that can help researchers locate obituaries and death notices. The most useful are our newspaper databases. Oftentimes obituaries can be located by entering a person's name and week of death into the newspapers databases.