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 Wisconsin? ›
The Wisconsin Historical Society has thousands of obituaries available for family researchers through different databases and physical collections. Wisconsin Name Index (WNI) Collection is an online index of three basic categories of information: obituaries, newspaper clippings and biographical book excerpts.
How do you find a person who passed away? ›
Read The Paper or Watch The Local News
If you receive a physical newspaper, review the obituaries section to see who recently passed. Searching for someone who died more than 30 days ago? Turn to sites like Google News Archives, US News Archives, or International News Archives.
Can you find out if someone has died? ›
A basic online search may reveal an obituary or information about a memorial service. Type the person's name and words like “death,” “obituary,” or “memorial” and any personal information you may have, such as their date of birth or names of close relatives who could be mentioned as one of their surviving kin.
How do I find out if someone died in Wisconsin? ›
Vital Records services, including requests for birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, are available by U.S. mail, online through VitalChek, or by phone through VitalChek at 877-885-2981. Appointments can still be made for in-person genealogy research.
How much does an obituary cost in Wisconsin? ›
Placing an obituary in the Wisconsin State Journal starts at $142.50.
Do you have to post an obituary in Wisconsin? ›
You are not legally required to place an obituary or death notice in the newspaper. However, if you would like a template to create an obituary, we can provide an electronic template for you. Sometimes, if the estate enters probate, you may need to place a legal notice in a public newspaper.
What not to put in an obituary? ›
When writing an obituary, leave out details that could be used for identity theft, such as the deceased's date and place of birth, middle name, maiden name and mother's maiden name. And don't include the deceased's home address.
How soon after death do you write an obituary? ›
Publishing an obituary is a time-sensitive process–you should try to have it written and posted within a week of the deceased's passing. This goes for obituaries published both online and in print. If the obituary includes funeral details, you must publish it at least three days before the funeral.
Who typically writes an obituary? ›
While there are no rules when it comes to who writes the obituary, they're typically written by family members or close friends. When a loved one passes, the family usually decides who will write it based on their relationship to the deceased or writing ability.
Two state-level California Death Indexes can be found at Ancestry.com (a database anyone can access from any library branch and Central Library) or FamilySearch.org (a free internet database). California, Death Index, 1905-1939 provides the digitized index page, plus its transcription.
Is there an app for local obituaries? ›
MyObits: Obituary Listings on the App Store.
How do I find an obituary for a specific person in MA? ›
Obituaries in Massachusetts and other parts of New England can generally be found in the local town or county papers. Many obituaries for Boston and the surrounding area can be found in: Boston Athenaeum. Index of Obituaries in Boston Newspapers, 1704-1800.
What is the largest obituary website? ›
Legacy.com. Search the world's largest obituary database.