Key points
- Funeral home websites show the newest notices first.
- Newspaper obituary pages are usually updated daily.
- Filter memorial sites by date and location.
- Recent notices can take a few days to appear.
Check funeral home pages
Funeral home websites usually list the most recent obituaries at the top. If you know the area, check the websites of funeral homes in that town and nearby towns.
Look at local newspaper pages
Local newspapers often have an obituaries section online that is updated every day. Many also let you sort by date or search by name.
Let us keep watch for you.
We check funeral homes, newspapers and memorial sites every day and email you when a matching notice appears.
Use filters on memorial sites
Memorial websites often let you filter by state, city and date. Choose the last few days to see the newest notices in an area.
Remember the timing
An obituary is often posted a few days after a death, once the family has made plans. If you do not see a notice yet, check again later or set up an alert so you do not have to keep searching.
Official resources.
- FamilySearchFree genealogy and death records
- Chronicling AmericaLibrary of Congress historic newspapers
- Resources for genealogistsU.S. National Archives
Common questions: how to find recent obituaries.
On the website of each funeral home, usually under Obituaries or Tributes. Our funeral home directory lists funeral homes by state, so you can see which ones serve the area you are searching.
Check the funeral home websites in the area and the local newspaper’s obituary page, which are usually updated daily.
Families often need a few days to plan the service and write the notice before it is posted.
Not always. New pages on small funeral home websites can take time to appear in search results.
Many memorial sites and newspaper pages let you filter by city, state and date.
Every few days, or set up an alert so you do not have to keep checking.
No. This guide is general information to help you get started. For legal matters, speak with a qualified professional.
This guide is general information to help you get started. It is not legal advice.