Admin Table of Contents
How do I find an obituary from years ago?
Nowadays, many obituaries can be found online, published digitally on the websites of newspapers and funeral homes, as well as on remembrance sites like Legacy. The local library remains a good place to look for older obituaries, with library newspaper archives often dating back a century or more.
How do I find out if someone died recently?
- Check Online Obituaries. The first way to see if someone has passed away is by searching for online obituary.
- Search Social Media.
- Use a Genealogy or Historical Site.
- Look for Government Records.
- Search Newspapers.
- Visit the Local Courthouse.
- Talk to Family Members.
- Go to an Archive Facility.
How do I look up someone who died?
How can I request my ancestors death record?
In other cases, there are indexes that contain information that will help you request the record. If you find your ancestor in an index, be sure to click on the database title and look at the description to learn how to request the actual death record.
Where can I find an obituary for my ancestor?
Don’t limit your obituary search to the area in which your ancestor lived. Newspapers in areas where your ancestor formerly lived, or where other family members lived may have run an obituary–and sometimes you’ll find more detail.
Where can I find the original death certificate?
The original is held by the local register office where the death occurred. If you know exactly where the death you are researching took place, it may be much easier to start with the local office as they will have far fewer certificates to search through.
Where can I find a death certificate in Northern Ireland?
The GRO for Northern Ireland only has death certificates since 1864; the GRO for Scotland since 1855. Again, it may prove easier to search the local parish records if you have a sense of where the death occurred. Ordering a death certificate can be sped up by applying in person.