
Table of Contents
- What is an obituary?
- Are obituaries legally required?
- How much does it cost to publish an obituary?
- When do I publish an obituary?
- Can I write my own obituary?
- How do I write an obituary?
- How do I publish an obituary?
- Extra tips for writing obituaries
- Why might someone not have an obituary
- Life’s last chapter
What is an obituary?
Are obituaries legally required?
Your estate consists of everything that you own: your house, your car, your bank accounts, your possessions, and your debts.
How much does it cost to publish an obituary?
When do I publish an obituary?
Can I write my own obituary?
How do I write an obituary?
- The deceased’s full name, as well as any nicknames that they went by
- Their age upon passing and date of birth
- Their birthplace and final place of residence
- Any surviving family members (i.e., spouses, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, step-relatives, etc.)
- Information related to the deceased’s career and education
- Their personal accomplishments
- Any hobbies or interests that they had
- The influence they had on their community
You can conclude the obituary with information regarding the service, where to send flowers or memorial gifts, or where to send charitable donations in place of flowers or gifts.
How do I publish an obituary?
- National newspapers
- Church newsletters and websites
- Community publications
- Industry newsletters and websites
- College or university alumni publications
- Accounts on social media
Extra tips for writing obituaries
Why might someone not have 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. Obituaries are also written for the living so that they may learn of an individual’s passing.
- The family might not have a service, so they felt no need for an obituary, as obituaries are often used to provide information on the funeral.
- The family may have disagreements about what to include in the obituary. This can be anything from the names of those the deceased is survived by to career choices and anything in between.
- The deceased might have had a complicated past or passed away under violent circumstances due to an accident, suicide, murder, war, or overdose. The family may not want to specify or could have complex feelings toward the deceased.